Free Republic

In accordance with its induction to Red Cross organization, Magen David Adom to provide humanitarian aid to Palestinians. Chairman of MDA's executive committee: We won't put up with woman who has to deliver baby at checkpoint Magen David Adom will provide the Palestinians with six ambulances bearing the Red Crescent symbol and Israeli vehicle license plates, MDA officials said Sunday at a press conference detailing the induction agreement of MDA into the International Red Cross. The ambulances which will be provided to the Palestinian Authority will be allowed to cross IDF checkpoints with a minimum security check, provided that the...

Muslim countries use procedural moves to block progress at conference. An attempt to end Israel's long isolation from the Red Cross humanitarian movement hit a snag Tuesday as Muslim opponents used procedural moves to block progress at a decisive international conference, delegates said. The International Conference of the Red Cross and Red Crescent, which opened Tuesday and is expected to conclude Wednesday, is being asked to approve changes to meet Israeli demands of almost six decades that it be granted full membership without using the cross or crescent to identify itself. But Red Cross officials hosting the conference confirmed that...

Foreign Minister Micheline Calmy-Rey is holding talks in the Middle East on a new emblem for the Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement. On Saturday she met her Egyptian counterpart and the president of the country's first aid service, before travelling to Israel, the Palestinian Territories and Lebanon. The three-day whirlwind tour of Calmy-Rey is part of efforts by Switzerland - the depositary state of the Geneva Conventions - to find a new humanitarian emblem. Switzerland aims to host a diplomatic conference before the end of the year, which would allow Israel's first aid service, Magen David Adom, to...

A red diamond-shaped emblem called a "crystal" into which a red Star of David is inserted may be approved by a majority of the 191 countries who are members in the International Red Cross Movement and the national societies before the end of this year. Late last night, diplomatic representatives of 123 countries were meeting at a "pre-conference" in Bern to tell the Swiss government whether they would approve recognition of a neutral symbol, in addition to the Red Cross and the Red Crescent, that would give legitimacy to other countries' first-aid, ambulance and blood supply societies. Most eager is...

GENEVA - Member countries of the international Red Cross movement met on Monday to investigate whether they can revive an effort to give Israel full status five years after the last attempt failed because of Arab-Israeli tension. The disagreement centers around whether a red Star of David can join the emblems of the red cross and red crescent to identify ambulances, medical workers and others on humanitarian missions. Israel, which cooperates with the movement, has been denied full membership over the emblem issue for 57 years. "Members are holding informal discussions on whether or not to convene a diplomatic conference,"...

A new study conducted for Republican senators alleges that the International Committee for the Red Cross has "lost its way" by abandoning its guiding principle of impartiality and is now working in "direct opposition to the advancement of U.S. interests." The stinging report, issued yesterday by the Republican Policy Committee, also urges Congress to launch an investigation into the finances of the international humanitarian organization, which has been sharply critical of the treatment of prisoners at American-run detention centers in Guantanamo Bay and in Iraq. The American government is the largest donor to the International Red Cross, contributing $1.5 billion...

Zaka, the body evacuation unit organized by haredim whose volunteers often arrive at the site of terror attacks on motorcycles before Magen David Adom ambulances, has agreed to take orders from the most senior MDA professional there—unless Zaka volunteers get there first. This was one point of agreement reached by Health Ministry senior official Dr. Michael Dor, who tried on Tuesday to mediate between heads of the two organizations. Zaka and MDA's complaints about each other in the wake of terror attacks have become increasingly bitter in recent months. Magen David Adom director-general Avi Zohar contends that Zaka -- which...

Subject: Canada has changed its mind...refuses to accept Magen David Adom. Jan. '03 Canada decided to decertify Magen Dovid Adom (Israel Red Cross) as a charity eligible to receive aid from Canadians. Magen Dovid helps people regardless of their religion or ethnic background. On the other hand, the Red Crescent (the Moslem Red Cross) which only helps Muslims in the Middle East, will continue to be a recognized charity by the Canadian government. This is clearly a political decision and we need to voice our objections to it. The decision can be reversed if enough pressure is put on the...

Please sign a petition, located at website: http://www.PetitionOnline.com/savemda Canada has decided to close its Magen David Adom (Israel Red Cross) off and decertify this organization as a charity eligible to receive aid from Canadians. Magen David helps people regardless of their religion or ethnic background. On the other hand, the Red Crescent (the Moslem Red Cross) which only helps Muslims in the Middle East, will continue to be a recognized charity by the Canadian government. This is clearly a political decision and we need to voice our objections to it. The decision can be reversed if enough pressure is put...

Revoking the registration of the Magen David Adom (MDA) as a charitable organization -- as proposed by the Canada Customs and Revenue Agency and upheld by a majority decision of the Federal Court of Appeal -- is an outrage. The MDA, the Red Star of David, is Israel's Red Cross. It's easy to agree with Edward L. Greenspan and David C. Nathanson, the eminent Canadian lawyers, who argued in these pages last week that the Federal Court's "judgment is wrong and should not stand." A withdrawal of charitable status makes donations, on which non-governmental organizations like the Red Star of...

The Magen David Adom (MDA), the Red Star of David, was born 52 years ago. It is the Red Cross, except with a Jewish symbol. Its purpose is to protect life and health and to alleviate human suffering. It serves, without discrimination, the entire Israeli population, including 1.1-million Israeli Arabs, and Palestinian Arabs in need. MDA is not a government agency. It sought membership in the International Federation of Red Cross (IFRC) with the Red Star of David as its emblem. The Star of David is the symbol of the Jewish people as well as of Israel. Surrender of its...