Middle East Relief Groups Join Red Cross

The Israeli and Palestinian humanitarian relief societies finally joined the international Red Cross and Red Crescent movements today, after a majority of delegates from close to 200 countries accepted a fiercely fought compromise.

The Palestinians are being allowed in even though they have no internationally recognised state, while Israel can use a new sign - a red crystal - to take account of its objections to the cross and crescent as symbols of Christianity and Islam.

The decision ends a 58-year struggle for accession to the movement by Israel's Magen David Adom, which uses the star of David as its symbol.

The crystal was adopted as a new sign in December but two more days of argument were needed this week before the Geneva Convention's signatory states and national Red Cross and Red Crescent societies voted by 237 to 54 to provide the legal base for Magen David Adom to join the movement and use the logo.

The Israeli group will be allowed to combine the crystal with the star to create a new logo, while Israel's military will be able to use the crystal by itself on a white flag to protect medics and other humanitarian workers. Other groups will be allowed to combine the emblem with the cross or crescent - or both - for temporary use.

Mohammed al-Hadid, the conference chairman, said: "This is an historic moment ... We urge all governments to respect the red crystal in addition to the red cross and red crescent." Despite complaints from the Organisation of the Islamic Conference, the resolution was passed with more than the required two-thirds majority.

An amendment from Pakistan and Tunisia that would have challenged Israel's occupation of Arab territory since the 1967 Arab-Israeli war was voted down by 191 to 72.

The red cross on a white background - a reversal of the colours of the Swiss flag - was adopted as the relief movement's emblem when it was founded in 1863 by Swiss humanitarians trying to care for battlefield casualties.

Muslims complained that the cross reminded them of aggression by Christian Crusaders, and insisted on their own red crescent, which was accepted in the 19th century.

When Israel's relief society was turned down in 1949, it objected to using the cross or crescent, and the movement refused to admit another emblem.

The Israeli and Palestinian societies signed a memorandum of understanding in December to improve cooperation on the ground, including how to deal with issues such as Red Crescent ambulances being delayed at Israeli army roadblocks on the West Bank.

Ian Piper, a spokesman for the International Committee of the Red Cross, said: "The two societies will have to agree how to operate more effectively, and the memorandum will hopefully overcome those kinds of problems."