CJC and CIC Commend Red Cross Red Crescent Movement on Admission of Israel's Magen David Adom to Full Membership

For Immediate Release

June 22, 2006
Ottawa, Ontario

Canadian Jewish Congress and the Canada-Israel Committee praised the decision by a large majority of delegates to the 29th International Conference of the Red Cross Red Crescent Movement to amend the Geneva Conventions to adopt the new "Red Crystal" symbol and admit Israel's Magen David Adom (Red Star of David) into full membership in the movement.

"We commend the delegates who supported the resolution for sending the message that the greater cause of humanitarianism trumped narrow political concerns, and we thank all those who played a leading role in attempting to achieve consensus at the conference," said CJC National President Ed Morgan.

"With these important steps, the Red Cross Red Crescent Movement has, after far too many years, finally removed the major impediment to its goal of true universality," said Marc Gold, Chair of the Canada-Israel Committee. "Despite its lack of official membership, Magen David Adom has been prominent in providing front-line international disaster relief, particularly in recent years. This is a role we anticipate will be facilitated even further by MDA's full status in the Movement."

Morgan noted that CJC has worked collaboratively for many years with senior officials of the Canadian Red Cross Society toward today's result and he praised their longstanding advocacy on this issue. "We deeply thank the Canadian Red Cross Society for its critical contribution as a staunch advocate of the adoption of the Red Crystal and for its dedicated and sustained work with MDA and other National Societies to set the stage for today's welcome developments," he added. "We also extend warm appreciation to the Government of Canada, both in Ottawa and Geneva, for its strong support for the adoption of the Red Crystal and the official welcoming of MDA into the Movement."

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For further information:
Shimon Fogel, CEO
Canada-Israel Committee
613-762-3657

Marc Gold
Chair
Canada-Israel Committee
514-237-0513