IV

106TH CONGRESS

2D SESSION H. RES. 464

Expressing the sense of Congress on international recognition of Israel’s

Magen David Adom Society and its symbol the Red Shield of David.

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

APRIL 6, 2000

Mr. GILMAN (for himself, Mr. GEJDENSON, Mr. ENGEL, Mr. WEINER, Mr.

ROHRABACHER, Mr. ACKERMAN, and Mr. LANTOS) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on International

Relations

RESOLUTION

Expressing the sense of Congress on international recognition

of Israel’s Magen David Adom Society and its symbol

the Red Shield of David.

Whereas Israel’s Magen David Adom Society has provided

emergency relief to people in many countries in times of

need, pain, and suffering since 1930, regardless of nationality or religious affiliation;

Whereas in the past year alone, the Magen David Adom Society has provided invaluable services in Kosovo, Indonesia,

and Kenya following the bombing of the United States

Embassy in Kenya, and in the wake of the earthquakes

that devastated Greece and Turkey;
2

•HRES 464 IH

Whereas the American Red Cross has recognized the superb

and invaluable work done by the Magen David Adom Society and considers the exclusion of the Magen David

Adom Society from the International Committee of the

Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement ‘‘an injustice of

the highest order’’;

Whereas the American Red Cross has repeatedly urged that

the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement

recognize the Magen David Adom Society as a full member;

Whereas the Magen David Adom Society utilizes the Red

Shield of David as its emblem, in similar fashion to the

utilization of the Red Cross and Red Crescent by other

national societies;

Whereas the Red Cross and the Red Crescent have been recognized as protected symbols under the Statutes of the

International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement;

Whereas the International Committee of the Red Cross has

ignored previous requests from the United States Congress to recognize the Magen David Adom Society;

Whereas the Statutes of the International Red Cross and Red

Crescent Movement state that it ‘‘makes no discrimination as to nationality, race, religious beliefs, class or political opinions’’ and it ‘‘may not take sides in hostilities

or engage at any time in controversies of a political, racial, religious or ideological nature’’;

Whereas although similar national organizations of Iraq,

North Korea, and Afghanistan are recognized as full

members of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, the Magen David Adom Society has been

denied membership since 1949; and
3

•HRES 464 IH

Whereas in fiscal year 1999 the United States Government

provided $119,400,000 to the International Committee of

the Red Cross and $7,300,000 to the Federation of Red

Cross and Red Crescent Societies: Now, therefore, be it

1 Resolved, That—

2 (1) the International Committee of the Red

3 Cross should immediately recognize the Magen

4 David Adom Society and the Magen David Adom

5 Society should be granted full membership in the

6 International Committee of the Red Cross and Red

7 Crescent Movement;

8 (2) the Federation of Red Cross and Red Cres9 cent Societies should grant full membership to the

10 Magen David Adom Society immediately following

11 recognition by the International Committee of the

12 Red Cross of the Magen David Adom Society as a

13 full member of the International Committee of the

14 Red Cross; and

15 (3) the Red Shield of David should be accorded

16 the same protections under international law as the

17 Red Cross and the Red Crescent.

Æ