The American Red Cross of Greater New York welcomes and celebrates the membership of Magen David Adom (MDA) and the Palestine Red Crescent Society to the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement. The inclusion of these two National Societies is a significant step towards universality for the Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement.

For MDA, admission is long overdue. Since Israel gained Statehood in 1948, the American Red Cross has fought for international recognition of MDA as Israel's equivalent to the Red Cross. To underscore this commitment and encourage action on this issue, the American Red Cross has withheld $45 million in dues since May 2000 to the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies.

For more than 50 years, the American Red Cross Board of Governors had considered admission of MDA to the Movement a policy priority. MDA had been denied access to the Movement because they used the Red Star of David, which is not explicitly referenced in the Geneva Conventions.

In December 2005, a Diplomatic Conference adopted the Third Additional Protocol to the Geneva Conventions. The Third Additional Protocol to the Geneva Conventions enables MDA to continue to use the Red Shield of David when operating in Israel and, when operating outside of Israel, to use the Red Shield of David inside the newly adopted Red Crystal emblem.

The success of the Diplomatic Conference was due in large part to a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) and Agreement on Operational Arrangements between MDA and the Palestine Red Crescent Society in which both Societies committed to take concrete steps to improve humanitarian conditions in these areas. The MOU also paved the way for the membership of both societies in the Movement. As a result of these agreements, Palestinians now receive urgently needed medical and humanitarian services more quickly.

Organizations and Members of Congress who have been steadfast in their support for MDA"s admission," said McElveen-Hunter.

The Greater New York Chapter has had a formal Memorandum of Understanding with the Jerusalem Chapter of MDA since December 2004. This has resulted in a series of fruitful exchange programs in which representatives of each organization gain first hand knowledge of the proven procedures, techniques and programs of the other. MDA representatives have come to New York City to participate in and contribute to disaster drills with the Chapter, OEM and the New York Fire Department. More than a dozen Greater New York Board members, managers, employees and volunteers have traveled to Israel as part of this exchange.