Don't Support MDA 'Court Jews'

I have written in the past about my deep displeasure with the International Red Cross' insistence that the Israeli chapter (MDA; Magen David Adom; Red Star of David) jump through hoops and debase itself in order to maintain its conditional membership.

The most glaring example of this is the requirement, to which Israeli Magen David Adom acquiesced, that its teams operating abroad abandon the Red Star of David in favor of a non-sectarian 'Red Crystal' that would, presumably, be less offensive to the sensibilities of Muslims and Christians in the countries where Israeli MDA crews might be called upon to render assistance.

Because, you know, the Red Cross and Red Crescent are non-sectarian too, right?

Anyway... several months ago, residents of Judea and Samaria began noticing a disturbing trend.  Whenever one of the Magen David Adom ambulances stationed in a community over the green line went in for routine maintenance, it came back with the MDA logo removed, and in its place a generic red star.

When reports of this trend hit the news, MDA rushed to send out press releases and emails assuring the public (and their financial supporters) that there was no change in MDA policy regarding serving Israeli communities in Judea and Samaria.  They explained that it was simply a natural trend towards making the various communities more autonomous in terms of providing emergency medical services.

Hmmm.  Yeah, I wasn't convinced either. 

Not to worry, an agreement between MDA Israel and the International Red Cross soon came to light that formally "abrogated the right to serve any areas not recognized internationally as within Israel's borders.  [excluding] large population centers such as  Kiryat Arba, Efrat, Maaleh Adumim, Ariel, Kedumim and parts of Jerusalem as well as all the smaller Jewish communities in Judea and Samaria".

Today Israeli MDA finally offically admitted that they had, in fact, changed their policy regarding serving the communities in Judea and Samaria. 

But according to the report, they justified their action by explaining that the new agreement was made "because it raises the status of [MDA] as an official member of the International Red Cross".  And that "[MDA's] membership allows it to participate in worldwide rescue efforts and to receive funds from the organization, according to the MDA".

At first blush this sounds reasonable.  Until, that is, one stops to consider who actually benefits; Israel or MDA?. 

Once you ask that question MDA comes off sounding a lot like the classic definition of a 'Court Jew'. 

For those who aren't familiar with the concept, historically a 'Court Jew' was someone who, in return for serving the agenda of a wealthy patron, gained social privileges—sometimes even titles—and was allowed to live outside the Jewish ghettoes and mingle with non-Jewish society.

How is that different from what we're seeing here?  In return for the privilege of being able to go out and rub shoulders with the rest of the world, MDA is being asked to show its willingness to serve the agenda of a wealthy patron; the International Red Cross.

Isn't it in the interest of the International Red Cross to have Israeli MDA teams respond to international emergencies? 

Is it such an honor for us to be able to participate in such efforts that MDA should turn its back on its domestic responsibilities? 

And it also begs the questions of just how much of MDA's funding comes from the International Red Cross, as opposed to private funding?

Well, I propose that we help MDA weigh these important questions. 

I encourage those who support MDA financially to give directly to Israeli hospitals and to community medical clinics, instead of continuing to help the Court Jews at MDA maintain their status with those who have shunned us at every turn, and who wish to gain an unhealthy influence in our internal affairs.