The American Red Cross and Magen David Adom in Israel

Magen David Adom (MDA), the Israeli equivalent of the Red Cross, was recognized and admitted alongside the Palestine Red Crescent Society as a member of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement (Movement) on June 21, 2006 after more than 50 years of diplomatic efforts and advocacy. Admission of both societies allows the Movement to fulfill its principle of Universality. MDA was founded in 1930 but not admitted as a member of the Movement because it uses the Red Shield (Star) of David which was not recognized under the Geneva Conventions. Today, there are 185 recognized national societies in the Movement, including the American Red Cross.

The American Red Cross has considered the admission of MDA to the Movement a policy priority for more than 50 years. In protest of the non-admission of MDA, the American Red Cross withheld seven years of dues payments to the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (the Federation) from 2000 to 2006 totaling approximately $45 million.

To address the non-admission of MDA and other problems, in 2000 an amendment to the Geneva Conventions (i.e., the Third Additional Protocol) was developed. After a five year delay in holding the diplomatic conference to adopt the Protocol due to political circumstances in the Middle East, the Swiss Government convened the conference in December 2005 and governments voted overwhelmingly to adopt the Protocol.

The Protocol creates an additional protective emblem called the “Red Crystal.” This additional emblem is equal in status to the existing Red Cross and Red Crescent; provides an additional protective emblem for use in conflicts where the existing Red Cross or Red Crescent may be perceived as having cultural, religious, or political connotations; provides National Societies with an alternative emblem to identify themselves as part of the Movement within or outside their country; and, importantly, paves the way for MDA to become a full voting member of the Movement. Importantly, the MDA will be able to use its existing emblem within Israel and internationally within the Red Crystal.

In June 2006, governments, national societies, the Federation, and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) met to update the rules for recognizing societies in conformity with the new Protocol and to vote for admission of MDA. The American Red Cross is quite pleased with these historic agreements and the admission of these two societies. It is important to note that MDA will still be allowed to use the Star of David within Israel and will follow the rules that govern other National Societies when helping countries outside Israel.

The American Red Cross has supported MDA in a number of ways in addition to withholding approximately $45 million in dues in protest of the non-admission of MDA. In 2002, the American Red Cross signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with MDA laying the basis for extensive cooperation between the American Red Cross and MDA. The American Red Cross has also encouraged other National Societies to sign similar MOUs with MDA and other societies have engaged MDA in constructive bilateral activities. In 2003, the ICRC signed a MOU with MDA resulting in $1.6 million in funding for MDA.

The American Red Cross continues to provide Holocaust-related tracing and documentation services as it has since 1939. A resource of hope, the American Red Cross Holocaust and War Victims Tracing Center has responded to over 37,000 requests worldwide and has provided substantive information on the deportation, internment and even certification of death of more than 11,000 family members and in 1,200 miraculous cases found loved ones still alive. MDA is one of the Center's key tracing partners.

For updates and more information on MDA membership efforts, please visit www.redcross.org/mda.