After 57 years, it looks like the dispute between the International Red Cross and Magen David Adom over the use of the star of David symbol -- which resulted in the Israeli organisation being denied full membership of the IRC -- might finally be resolved.
The proposed solution has been on the cards for some time, and involves the IRC introducing a third symbol, in addition to the red cross and red crescent, which will be considered 'neutral' and 'secular' -- a red diamond, or 'lozenge.' Under certain circumstances (not during war situations), Israel and other countries which don't want to operate under a cross or crescent will be able to insert their own national symbol into the lozenge.
I'm all for compromise but this is, of course, an entirely unfair solution, which reduces Jewish (and Hindu and other) symbols to second-class status compared to the cross and the crescent, and which still dictates that the Jewish magen David should not be displayed in certain circumstances.
The official reason the IRC (or, more accurately, the countries who have signed the Geneva Convention, who get to vote on this) previously refused to approve the Magen David was because it was worried about a 'proliferation of symbols.' Of-course, this has now been exposed as a lie, since if Israel and other nations can now insert their own insignia into the diamond, they're basically going to end up with a myriad of symbols anyway.
The real reason, of course, is that the Arab states were 'offended' by the Magen David and that the rest of the world pandered to this anti-Semitism. By accepting a solution which is anything less than giving the Magen David equal status to the cross and the crescent, they are continuing to do so (although Israel, having been brow beaten for so many years over this, is simply happy for the crumbs thrown its way).
Alternatively, if they're stuck on this lozenge idea, a just solution to this whole thing would be to make everyone put their own symbol, be it cross*, crescent, magen david or other, into the lozenge. The neutral symbol should be everyone's, equally.
But they're not going to do that. Wouldn't want to offend the Muslims, you see.
*In fact, the IRC claims that the cross is not a religious symbol but the inverted Swiss flag. This, however, is irrelevant since it has become associated with the Christian cross in everyone's mind -- the IRC's own fault for allowing the crescent.
