MDA Saves Lives But Loses National Honor

Almost two years ago, we all became embroiled in a dispute with Magen David Adom and its American Friends support group.

See here and here.

Now we learn:

Magen David Adom is not in compliance with a 2005 agreement not to operate its ambulances in east Jerusalem and the West Bank, International Committee of the Red Cross President Peter Maurer told Israeli reporters in Tel Aviv on Thursday...this 2005 agreement bans MDA from operating over the pre-1967 line, except in the Golan Heights, in favor of the Red Crescent.

As a result of the memorandum, MDA took its logo off ambulances operated by local Israeli authorities in West Bank settlements...He added that a monitor examines Israeli compliance with this issue.
 
...MDA spokesman Zaki Heller said that MDA has not agreed to cease operation in West Bank settlements and east Jerusalem. Heller said his organization had interpreted the 2005 agreement to mean that MDA ambulances could operate where Israelis live, including West Bank settlements and Jewish neighborhoods of east Jerusalem.

...Foreign Ministry officials explained that MDA was walking a fine line between privatizing service over the pre-1967 line to comply with the agreement, while still operating in Jewish communities in east Jerusalem and the West Bank.  The officials added that MDA signed the 2005 memorandum of understanding, but the Israeli government had not.  They added that they would not have advised MDA to sign the memorandum.

The agreement allowed Israel to be recognized as a member of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent movement and the ICRC.

Saving lives is worthy.

Saving national honor is, too.

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MDA Almost All The Way

Following up on my post on the MDA's new policy (with documents), I have been informed that the Americann Friends of Magen David Adom has updated its site and there is this there currently:

MDA AMBULANCES IN JUDEA AND SAMARIA



Operating from 119 Emergency Medical Stations throughout Israel, from the northernmost city of Metulla to Eilat, and including 14 MDA Stations in West Bank communities, Magen David Adom ambulances continue to proudly display the “Red Star of David” or “Magen David Adom.” There has been no change in this policy. MDA ambulances have displayed the “Red Star of David” since the organization’s founding in 1930 and any rumors or allegations to the contrary are simply not true.

Recently, on “Shabbat Hevron” (“Hayei Sara,” the parasha read on November 19), Magen David Adom had a medical tent near Machpela (Tomb of the Patriarchs) in Hevron, further proving that MDA provides service on both sides of the “Green Line.”


In addition to its large national fleet of emergency vehicles, there are a number of small kibbutzim, moshavim, factories and communities on both sides of the “Green Line” that are operating older ambulances which were provided by MDA after they were taken out of active duty. Crews manning these lifesaving vehicles are trained and certified by Magen David Adom, work under the supervision of MDA’s “Community Unit” and are in regular communication with the MDA National Dispatch Center, but are not MDA staff. These ambulances also carry the “Magen David” shield, however because they are operated by individual communities and municipalities this emblem is blue and the vehicles also bear the names of their home base communities. This ensures that there is no confusion regarding the level of operational capabilities.


All the policies and procedures regarding community ambulances have been fully endorsed by the Israeli Government and in consultation with Danny Dayan, Chairman of the Judea and Samaria Council who requested that these adjustments to “community ambulances” first take place on the other side of the “Green Line” and only afterwards in Judea and Samaria. MDA agreed to this request.

So, let me restate what the situation is but first, pictures:

In the Binyamin Region there are 22 ambulances. Two are operated directly by MDA, out of Ofra and Talmon. They remain as were. The other 20 are leased from MDA, operated under MDA supervision and in complete coordination with them and we have been forced to remove the MDA graphics from them and replace them as you can now discern above.

That is the reality. The MDA symbol is gone from those 20 ambulances in Binyamin (I do not have all the stats from the other councils), the symbol you see below:

A new one, as if there is something to be embarrassed about the MDA symbol, is up.

I exposed for you the documents which explain why that was done (and here's someone else's post).

Judge for yourself.  Make your own decisions to support MDA or question it.

Oh and here's what a Pal. Authority ambulance looks like:

Oh, here is a Syrian ambulance:

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The Red Cross Goes Apartheid

I suggested at the beginning of December here that you consider withdrawing financial support from Magen David Adom due to its capitulation to PA demnds to remove the Jewish symbolic star from the ambulances operating in Judea and Samaria.

You didn't.

And the result is:

ICRC: MDA removed symbols from ambulances in West Bank

A senior official in the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) confirmed Wednesday morning that Magen David Adom removed the "Magen David" symbol from the ambulances it operates in the West Bank to comply with an agreement with the Palestinian Red Crescent...Per Stanbeck, told Army Radio that when Magen David Adom joined the ICRC, it was required to cease operating in the West Bank. Because it cannot operate in the territories, "[they] are outsourcing the ambulances" to local authorities, he said.

Chairman of the Judea and Samaria Council of Settlements Dani Dayan responded with harsh criticism over the news, saying that while Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu is fighting over details with the Palestinians in Amman, "[Magen David Adom] already recognized a Palestinian state on 1967 borders," speaking with Army Radio.

To remind you, back in August:

MDA: Red Star of David logo to remain on W. Bank ambulances

Magen David Adom defended itself Tuesday against accusations by settlers that it had politicized medical service by removing its classic logo of the Red Star of David from ambulances servicing Israelis living in Judea and Samaria.

...Council head Dani Dayan charged that MDA had caved to a demand by the International Committee of the Red Cross in a 2005 agreement not to use the Red Star logo in regions beyond the pre-1967 border.  “It is quite clear that the reason is political,” said Dayan.

...MDA spokesman Zaki Heller rejected Dayan’s claims. He said that in order to join the ICRC Israel had agreed in 2005 not to use its classic logo when operating outside of Israel. Instead, MDA agreed to place the star inside a red diamond.  But, Heller said, MDA continues to use the classic Red Star logo on its ambulances housed in 12 places across the West Bank.  MDA has no intention of changing this policy, he said.  What did occur, in a nod to the ICRC, is that MDA decided not to place its classic Red Star of David logo on ambulances that were owned by individual communities and only jointly operated with MDA, Heller said.

Blood is not thicker than...

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Neat Magen David

Intertwining the letters of the Hebrew alef-bet into the Magen David:-

...And Now, The Sheitel

Okay, Marilyn Monroe and Debbie Reynolds and Elizabeth Taylor all married Jewish guys.

Then Madonna went for Kabbalah.

And now, Britney Spears, after her Jewish boy friend and her Magen David pendant,



has gone all the way.

First, she shaves off all her hair (a la Meah She'arim?) while wearing the Magen David.



And next, yes, a sheitel:-



(Found here)

Why can't these ladies just do with what they are?

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UPDATE

She's getting a bit violent.