Israel's Magen David Adom (MDA) and the French Red Cross have signed a bilateral operational agreement, aiming to reinforce existing ties between the two national societies, improve services offered within their respective countries and to assist each other in times of need. A similar agreement has been signed with the American Red Cross. The signing ceremony took place in Paris, where MDA Chairman Maj.-Gen. (ret.) Yohanan Gur noted that the agreement reflects the personal philosophy and the aim shared by the societies: to safeguard human life and the dignity of man, and to ease suffering whilst constantly improving the availability and quality of service offered to the needy. "I consider the agreement of great importance," Gur said, "as it was signed with one of the founding member societies of the International Red Cross, and in a country where the protection of human rights is of the highest importance."
The need for such bilateral agreements is the result of an anti-Israeli policy of the International Red Cross (IRC). The IRC refuses to admit Israel's Magen David Adom into its organization, on the grounds that MDA's symbol - the six-pointed Jewish star - is not one of the IRC's approved symbols. Originally, the only approved symbol was the red cross, but after Moslem nations objected to using a cross on religious grounds, a red crescent and a red lion-and-sun (for Iran) were also allowed. Dr. Bernadine Healy, ex-President of the American Red Cross, was outspokenly against this IRC policy, writing, "The IRC's feared proliferation of symbols is a pitiful fig leaf."
The need for such bilateral agreements is the result of an anti-Israeli policy of the International Red Cross (IRC). The IRC refuses to admit Israel's Magen David Adom into its organization, on the grounds that MDA's symbol - the six-pointed Jewish star - is not one of the IRC's approved symbols. Originally, the only approved symbol was the red cross, but after Moslem nations objected to using a cross on religious grounds, a red crescent and a red lion-and-sun (for Iran) were also allowed. Dr. Bernadine Healy, ex-President of the American Red Cross, was outspokenly against this IRC policy, writing, "The IRC's feared proliferation of symbols is a pitiful fig leaf."