Magen David Adom was yesterday accepted as a full member into the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, despite the objections of Arab and Muslim states.

The organization adopted the resolution at its 29th i nternational conference in Geneva by a majority of 237 members, while 54 voted against the move and 18 abstained.

The Red Cross, founded in 1863, has adopted a diamond-shaped "red crystal" in addition to its two previous official symbols - the red cross (which was initially a reversal of the flag of Switzerland, where the organization was founded) and the red crescent, which is a Muslim symbol. MDA, Israel's official emergency medical, disaster, ambulance and blood bank service, will be able to insert its Star of David emblem into the new crystal form and display it on its uniforms and vehicles and at all its events.

The resolution was made possible by a double compromise. First, the Star of David will appear inside the diamond-shaped frame. Second, to balance the move, the Red Cross decided to admit the Palestinian Red Crescent as a full member as well.

The resolution followed a struggle spanning many years by Israel, Jewish organizations and other countries to muster the required support in the organization. The turning point in Israel's favor occurred after it decided to pull out of Gaza, and support for Israel grew when Switzerland, which wields considerable influence within the organization, decided to back Israel's request.

MDA Chairman Noam Yifrah said the Red Cross move corrects a historic injustice, "after a just, long and persistent struggle of six decades." Now, MDA will have international recognition for its widespread international humanitarian activity, he said.

MDA officials said that the red Star of David symbol would continue to be used in activity in Israel, and the crystal with the Star of David inside or beside it would be used only when MDA engages on humanitarian activity overseas.

The decision has practical implications as well. From now on MDA, will be eligible for grants and information sharing, and will be able to participate in international conferences as a full member. The Red Cross is currently the most important organization dealing with prisoner of war exchanges, battlefield dead and wounded and humanitarian aid in disaster areas. It is involved in virtually every humanitarian issue, even in hostile states or in states that do not maintain diplomatic relations with each other and require mediation.

Shmuel Rosner adds:

Senator Hillary Clinton of New York, who had pushed for MDA's admission to the Red Cross, and Israeli Ambassador to the U.S. Dan Ayalon held a news conference in Washington yesterday to commend Israel's acceptance into the organization.

The two thanked the American Red Cross for the steamroller tactics it used to get Israel into the organization, including freezing money transfers to the international Red Cross ever since 2000. Without the efforts of the American administration, Congress and the American Red Cross, Israel would not have been admitted, he said.

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