New York, N.Y., August 1, 2001 … The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) today commended Senators Peter Fitzgerald (R-IL) and Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-NY) for their efforts to promote full recognition of Israel’s Red Cross, the Magen David Adom Society, and its emblem, the Red Shield of David, by the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement (ICRC).

"We commend Senators Peter Fitzgerald and Hillary Rodham Clinton for urging the expeditious inclusion of Israel’s Magen David Adom Society into the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement," said Abraham H. Foxman, ADL National Director. "Israel’s emergency relief agency provides international humanitarian aid to people in many countries, regardless of nationality or religious affiliation, and should be included."

The Magen David Adom Society was established in 1930 to provide medical and first aid services to the Jewish community in Palestine. Since then, it has provided wide medical and humanitarian services for all residents and visitors to the State of Israel as well as to victims of humanitarian crises such as in Kosovo and the recent earthquakes in Greece, Turkey and India.

The Anti-Defamation League, founded in 1913, is the world's leading organization fighting anti-Semitism through programs and services that counteract hatred, prejudice and bigotry.