No More Second Class Status For Israel At The Red Cross

NO MORE SECOND CLASS STATUS FOR ISRAEL AT THE REDCROSS – SIGN THE PETITION!

For over five decades, the International Committee of the Red Cross(ICRC) - viewed by the world as the epitome of humanity, impartiality and neutrality - has steadfastly refused to accept Israel’s Magen David Adom (MDA) as a full and equal voting member. The MDA has long exemplifiedIsrael’s unwavering commitment to international humanitarian relief efforts. And, the MDA is excluded even though they meet all the necessarycriteria for membership.

Here’s why. In 1949, four years after the Holocaust, the GenevaConventions established that only nations bearing the Red Cross or Red Crescent could be granted equal standing in the international humanitarianmovement. Israel's Star of David was excluded. Those rules - the very basis for international humanitarian law - effectively barred Israel from takingher rightful place among all the nations!

Here at the Center we are committed to working on every front tooverturn this injustice.

And, we are asking you to take two important actions:

First, please follow this link to sign the urgent-action petition to the Presidentof Switzerland , Samuel Schmid, demanding that Switzerland exercise its power to immediately convene a diplomatic conference of worldgovernments to amend the flawed 1949 Geneva Conventions. Demand that, at long last, Israel and its Star of David emblem are granted equal status amongnations in the International Red Cross.

And second, please make an urgently needed donation to the Center. Your generous contribution – and your signature on the petitions - will directly help us to press world leaders, Red Cross societies, and governments to overturn the IRC’s discriminatory policy towards Israeland the Jewish people.

I am proud to report that the American Red Cross (ARC) has emerged asIsrael’s biggest ally in this struggle. To date, the ARC has withheld $26 million in dues from the Geneva-based headquarters in a lone butcourageous protest over Israel’s exclusion. Recently, American Red Cross President Marsha Evans spoke at the Center's Museum of Tolerance to 30 Jewishleaders for the first time ever, emphasizing the need for "transparency and universality" within the IRC. She reiterated her organization's steadfastcommitment to withholding its dues from the international body until it ends its unjust exclusion of Israel.

We have also spoken face-to-face with Jakob Kellenberger, President ofthe International Committee of the Red Cross in Geneva, and with topleaders of the Canadian Red Cross in Ottawa, urging their support as well.

We know that, with your help, we can make a dramatic impact in the fightto correct this outrageous and shameful history of discrimination within the international humanitarian movement - and at the same time strengthenIsrael’s struggle to gain full and equal status in the family of nations. Please, act today.