MDA-ED2 PhotoBook P001-096 FIN 02 Spreads With Covers - Flipbook - Page 8
My country, Jordan, plays a role in promoting peace in the
region and beyond, and this lls me with pride. I was brought
up never to accept injustice, inequality and oppression, and
I hated seeing the horror of people suffering. The on-going
conict between the Israelis and Arabs is one of the greatest
tragedies of our time. Too many people have lost hope that
these two Semitic peoples – who believe in the same God
– can ever live together in harmony.
Despite the negative impact of the continuously challenging
political landscape and the continued volatility all over our
region, we remain committed to our mandate serving all in
need, preventing politicisation, fragmentation and polarisation
of our national societies; and promoting a culture of peace,
tolerance, love, respect for the person and the other opinion,
while adhering to humanitarian values and rules of the Red
Cross & Red Crescent (RCRC) Movement.
From 1997 to 2010, I was a member of the Executive
Committee of the McGill University to promote humanitarian
work and cooperation between Israelis and Palestinians.
Within that framework, we initiated regular joint exercises
with MDA on cross-border rescue and relief action in a
possible earthquake situation in Aqaba and Eilat.
I also helped raise funds to enable 14 Jordanian students
to get a BSc degree in Emergency Medical Services at the
Ben Gurion University in Israel. Their training was done with
MDA, an additional example of concrete peacebuilding and
humanitarian cooperation in a region sometimes plagued
by conict and suspicion.
P R E FA C E
When elected Vice-Chair of the Standing Commission of the
RCRC in 1999, I pledged to work with all parties concerned
to nd a solution to the emblem issue. Before this, the only
symbols that would afford protection to relief workers and
ambulances were the Red Cross and the Red Crescent.
Due to its use of the red star of David, Israel was not
recognised as a member of the movement.
6
I was actively involved in all meetings and processes, always
calling for respect for the fundamental principles of the
RCRC, especially the principle of universality. Later on, as
Chair of the Standing Commission, I continued my efforts
and convinced both the Palestinian Red Crescent Society
(PRCS) and MDA to meet, for the rst time, under challenging
circumstances at the Jordan Red Crescent in Amman.
The outcome was the signing of a memorandum of
understanding between the two national societies.
In 2006, I chaired the 29th International Red Cross and
Red Crescent Conference in Geneva, which led to changing
the statutes of the RCRC Movement, allowing for recognition
and admission of both the Magen David Adom in Israel and
the PRCS as members of the RCRC family.
On their admission to the RCRC Movement in June 2006,
I told MDA that I would like to see them as an active member
and not just a number. Today they have proved that their
commitment is a non-negotiable humanitarian imperative.
I would like to thank the leadership and members of MDA
for the excellent work they are doing to ease the suffering
of the most vulnerable in tough situations. On my several
visits, I was delighted to see Arabs and Jews working
together to save lives.
I conclude with a well-known saying by Imam Ali ibn Abi Talib:
“People are of two types: they are either your brothers in faith
or your equals in humanity.” This is the magic of life that our
ancient religions and philosophies have bid us to see, the
invisible lament of interconnectedness which binds us
together in love and appreciation.
I am sure that MDA will always be an advocate to
the humanitarian cause. I wish them all the best in
their endeavours.
H . E . D R M O H A M M E D A L- H A D I D
FO R M E R C H A I R M A N O F T H E STA N D I N G
CO M M I S S I O N O F T H E I N T E R N AT I O N A L R E D
C R O S S A N D R E D C R E S C E N T M OV E M E N T.
P R E S I D E N T O F T H E J O R DA N N AT I O N A L R E D
C R E S C E N T S O C I E T Y.
Preface
Photo: MDA
