Red Cross/Magen David Adom
At last, at long last, Israel's version of the (International) Red Cross, the Magen David Adom has received long-overdue recognition. With the proviso that the red Star of David be flown only internally, within the country itself, and externally that it be positioned within a recently-approved "red crystal" emblem, signifying that it is part of the International Red Cross, a long-festering injustice has been rectified. Without the steadfast support of the American Red Cross it is doubtful whether this would ever have come to pass. The American Red Cross has long worked behind the scenes to ensure that Israel's version of the Red Cross, utilizing the symbolic Star of David, would be accepted. To add additional emphasis the American Red Cross has withheld its yearly membership payments toward the International Red Cross in protest.But finally, delegates to an international conference tackled the injustice head on and accepted the new Red Cross emblem, enabling the Society to get around the troubling and persistent problem of too many symbols undermining the original one which was Christian in orientation and as such unacceptable to other countries whose religious underpinning was other than Christianity. The largest religious body next to that of Christianity of course being Islam, and in the countries of the world for which Islam was their guiding religious light, it was the Red Crescent which signified the humanitarian work of the Red Cross/Red Crescent Society.
Because of unbridled animosity of most Muslim countries against the State of Israel and its symbol, it had been almost impossible to reach any kind of meaningful agreement to permit Israel's Magen David Adom Society into the larger umbrella of the Red Cross. This hatred toward another society, another religion has never worked in any country's favour. When Pakistan suffered a dreadful disaster in Kashmir and thousands of its people perished or were buried in landslides post-earthquake, relief poured in from Christian countries, and citizens of other countries, including Jews, sent generous personal donations in response to the tragedy. When Israel offered the services of its Disaster Relief teams, internationall recognized for the quality of its work, it was refused, as is always the case by Muslim countries in response to such offers.
And it was Pakistan which headed the delegation of the 56-member Organization of the Islamic Conference, to deny Israel's Magen David Adom's recognition and induction under the greater umbrella of the International Red Cross. Despite which the Jewish Society was successfully admitted, with 94 (out of 192 signatories) countries approving the move, 27 Muslim countries rejecting, the balance abstaining.
It's also instructive to know that on occasion within the West Bank and Gaza, the most recent areas of Islamic 'irritation' against Israel, Red Crescent Ambulances have been known to be used to ferry terrorists belonging to Hamas and other such organizations to and from sites to avoid detection by Israeli authorities. It has also happened that UN ambulances have been used to transport rockets and used against Israeli troops and settlements; easy to understand because UNRWA's secretary general divulged that many of their paid employees are Hamas members.
The double standards continue, they are ongoing and unfettered, but occasionally there arises demands that things be straightened out to level the so-called playing field. And in the process, occasionally, Justice is done.
posted by Pieface @ Wednesday, December 14, 2005
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