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THE DETROIT JEWISH NEWS
2 Friday, October 13, 1918
Purely Commentary
Magen David Adom's Role,
Postponement of Recognition
by League of Red Cross Societies
Why does the League of Red Cross Societies, the world-
wide organization representing the important cause, fail to
admit its Israeli counterpart, Magen David Adorn? This has
been cause for irritation since the rebirth of the state of
Israel and the establishment of the Israel Red Cross move-
ment.
Political reasons causing the prejudicial act on the inter-
national scene account for the aggravations. Discriminat-
ory acts against Israel in many international agencies of
the United Nations resulted from the Communist-Third
World-Arab combine which will not stop at anything in
efforts to undermine Israel's status on the world scene.
The hatreds evidenced in many areas are not as evident
when the antagonists deal with Israel in Red Cross deliber-
ations. The International Red Cross cooperates with Israel,
in spite of the omission of the Israel movement from the
League of Red Cross Societies. The cooperative spirit is
ascribable to the very friendly attitude of the American Red
Cross which has backed recognition of Magen David Adorn
internationally.
IL-
The accompanying statement from the American Red
Cross is of great importance in clarifying the issue. It leads
to an understanding of the position taken by the American
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Symbols Recognized By
International Red Cross
and the lifeblood of Israel
Not Recognized
spokesmen and it must not be ignored. It is without doubt
the most vital document involving Magen David Adorn and
the dispute over its admission to the League of Red Cross
Societies.
A statement by Robert G. Wick, senior vice president of
the American National Red Cross, added importance to the
basic statement on relations with the Magen David Adorn.
It is vindication of the American position of fair play.
Emphasis on fair play by the Red Cross towards Magen
David Adorn has been heard here numerous times. Duane
E. Johnson, executive director of the Southeastern Michi-
gan Chapter of the American Red Cross, has joined the
Magen David Adorn functions here with messages of
friendship and cooperation. Whatever bias is the cause of
Israel's Magen David Adorn being deprived of having the
Shield of David included in the emblems with the Red
Cross, the Red Crescent and the Red Lion and Sun are not
the fault of American representatives.
Operation Recognition organized in behalf of Magen
David Adorn by Rabbi Rubin R. Dobin, helps in resolving
the problem created by political prejudices. If the American
Red Cross representatives have their say it is to be assumed
that the question mark in the accompanying square will be
completed with the inclusion of the Red Magen David as a
vital factor in the human efforts of the International Red
Cross.
American Role in Behalf of Admission of Israel's
Magen David Adom in League of Red Cross Societies
Emphasizes American Defense of Fair Play
By Philip
Slomovitz
Position Statement of the American Red Cross
On the Issue of International Recognition of
the Magen David Adorn in Israel
The problem of international recognition of Magen David Adorn, the national society of Israel, has existed since its
foundation in 1948. The basic issue is the inclusion of its emblem, -the Red Shield of David, among those emblems
currently in use and sanctioned by 'governments through international treaties known as the Geneva Conventions.
Controversy and misunderstanding surrounding this issue prompt the American Red Cross to present the following
factual information regarding international recognition of Magen David Adom:
I. The American Red Cross has always had and continues to have a positive relationship with the Magen David
Adorn of Israel. The American Red Cross has always recognized the Magen David Adorn as a fully qualified eati —'
society.
II. Unfortunately, the Shield of David was not accepted by the Diplomatic Conference of Governments in 1949 w n
the present Geneva Conventions were adopted despite the vigorous support of the United States government. The
Geneva Conventions are instruments developed by governments.
III. Despite the fact that the Shield of David is therefore not an emblem that is accorded the same legal recognition
as the "Cross, the Crescent and the Lion and the Sun," the Shield has had de facto recognition both as an emblem of the
medical services of the Israeli armed forces and as the emblem of the Israel National Society.
IV. The fact that the Shield has only de facto and not de jure recognition precludes official recognition of the Magen
David Adorn inasmuch as rules for recognition of the National Societies as determined by International Red Cross
Conferences specify that only Societies using emblems recognized in the Geneva Conventions may be afforded official
recognition. It should be noted that International Red Cross Conferences are attended by governments, as well as
National Societies. Thus, the recognition question is a governmental issue and not one that can be decided by Red Cross
Societies alone.
V. Diplomatic conferences were held in Geneva in four successive years — 1974, 1975, 1976 and 1977 — for the
purpose of drafting new protocols (that is, extensions) to the 1949 Geneva Conventions. Delegations from the
government of Israel attended each of these four diplomatic conferences inasmuch as Israel is a signatory to the Geneva
Conventions. It is our understanding that the United States government delegations assured the Israeli government
delegations that the United States government would support any Israeli request that the Shield of David be granted
identical status with the Cross, the Crescent and the Lion and Sun emblems. The Israeli delegations did not request
any one of the four conferences to accord recognition to the Shield of David.
VI. The 1974-77 Diplomatic Conferences were conferences of governments and not of Red Cross Societies. Because of
American Red Cross interest in the Magen David Adorn, the American Red Cross inquired of the U.S. Department of
State as to its understanding regarding the reasons why Israel had not asked for international recognition of the Shield
of David. It is our understanding that the government of Israel considered that an official request for recognition of the
Shield of David would not be acceptable to the Diplomatic Conferences and that a negative vote on the matter might
conceivably jeopardize the de facto recognition currently accorded the Shield of David.
VII. Because the Magen David Adorn uses an emblem not granted international recognition, it does not fulfill all
the conditions for full recognition and subsequent membership in the League of Red Cross Societies, the international
federation of the Red Cross, Red Crescent, and Red Lion and Sun Societies.
VIII. Recognizing that the Magen David Adorn performs excellent services on behalf of its country and that in every
way it is exceptionally well-qualified as a national society for membership in the League, except for the technicality of
its emblem, the American Red Cross -put forward a proposed resolution to a special meeting of the board of governors of
the League of Red Cross Societies convened in Geneva, Switzerland in OctobeT 1976 to consider a new Constitution for
the League. The American Red Cross resolution recommended that (1) a joint commission comprised of representatives
of the International Committee of the Red Cross and the League of Red Cross Societies be appointed to review the
conditions and procedures related to the recognition of national societies in order to adapt them to present world
circumstances, and that (2) "Such commission be enjoined to consider in particular the record and humanitarian
services of Magen David Adorn, the national society of Israel, and ways and means whereby that society could be
granted full recognition by international Red Cross bodies, given the undisputed fact that its emblem has been
accorded de facto recognition for several decades." Prior to requesting that this resolution be placed on the agenda, the
American Red Cross informed the Magen David Adorn of its intention.
IX. The government of Israel sent a special representative to Geneva to confer with the American Red Cross
delegation to request that the resolution referred to above be withdrawn. It was his opinion that the resolution should
not be presented to the board of governors of the League for action despite the fact that it already had been circulated to
all delegations. Accordingly, after discussion with the Israeli representative and appropriate officials of the League, it
was determined that the American Red Cross resolution would be dropped from the agenda.
X. However, the senior American Red Cross delegates attending the League meeting (Dr. Frank Stanton, chair-
man, and Mr. George Elsey, president) felt that some positive action in the interest of the Magen David Adorn was
essential. The terms of the proposed new constitution contained language so restrictive as to membership that, if
adopted in the form in which drafted, it would make the consideration of MDA membership in the future especially
difficult.
Therefore, Dr. Stanton presented an amendment which wquld have removed from the list of requirements for League
membership the requirement that a national society be eligible only if its emblem were the Cross, the Crescent, or the
Red Lion and Sun.
a
If the American amendment had been adopted, it would have cleared the way for Magen David Adorn membership
without requiring a change in the constitution at such time in the future as the MDA might wish to apply for
membership. After extensive debate, the American amendment was rejected by a vote of 50 against, 6 in favor, 4
delegates abstaining, and 25 delegates withholding their votes and not recorded in any fashion. Among the reasons
advanced by those speaking against the ARC amendment were that decisions on emblems are within the authority of
governments, not Red Cross bodies, and that the question of additional emblems was a matter to be considered at the
final session of the Diplomatic Conference scheduled for Geneva in the Spring of 1977. (As noted above in Paragraphs
V. and VI., the Israeli government did not request the 1977 Diplomatic Conference to accord recognition to the Shield of
David.)
XI. Therefore, the requirement that membership in the League be limited to Societies that use the Cross, CreF -
and the Lion and Sun remains in force.
XII. Despite the fact that the Magen David Adorn is not a member of the League, relationships between the
American Red Cross and the Magen David Adorn are in no way impaired. In July 197', the president of the American
Red Cross was cordially received at the Magen David Adorn headquarters in Israel where he conferred with the chief
officials of that organization discussing mutual interests and future cooperative efforts.
XIII. Because of the complexities of this issue there continued to be an unfortunate lack of understanding of the
relationship between the American Red Cross and the Magen David Adorn. Misunderstandings are somewhat fostered
by continued emphasis on membership in the League of Red Cross Societies. Accordingly, the American Red Cross
limits its reference to League membership in its publications and emphasizes, instead indirect association with other
national societies including the Magen David Adorn of Israel. American Red Cross chapters are encouraged to use but a
single emblem in their literature and in their displays — the Red Cross itself— and not to display the Crescent and the
Lion and Sun in their publications, banners or flags. In the event that a chapter wishes to use multiple flags or
emblems, then all four emblems used by societies recognized by the American Red Cross as fully qualified national
societies must be displayed. These are: the Cross, the Crescent, the Lion and Sun, and the Shield of David.
XIV. At the XXIII International Conference of the Red Cross held in Bucharest in October 1977, considering that
the question of emblems called for its thorough examination by the National Societies, the International Committee of
the Red Cross and the League of Red Cross Societies constituted a working group to study all questions relating to
emblems. The American Red Cross recommended the establishment of such a group in October 1976 and has been
named a member of this working group, which will present its report to the XXIVth International Conference in 1981.