Red Crystal Adopted As Medical Relief Symbol

The familiar Red Cross and Red Crescent will be joined by a new "red crystal" emblem after signatory states to the 1949 Geneva conventions voted last night to approve a non-religious symbol for the global humanitarian movement.

Yesterday's vote in Geneva paves the way for Israel to become a member of the worldwide relief effort after nearly 60 years of exclusion. Israel has always refused to display either cross or crescent, but favoured the new design - a red diamond on a white background into which the Red Star of David of the Israeli relief agency Magen David Adom can be placed.