9 February 2004

NEWS RELEASE

First visit of MDA's Chairman of the Executive Committee
With the President of the International Red Cross in Geneva

Last week, for the first time, a meeting took place between the Chairman of
MDA's Executive Committee General (Res.) Yochanan Gur, accompanied by the
Director of the International Department of MDA, Mr. Haim Dagan, at the
Headquarters of the International Red Cross (ICRC) and the Federation (IFRC)
in Geneva. The meeting was held at the invitation of Dr. Jacob Kellenberger,
the influential president of the International Red Cross. During the
meeting, which was held in a very practical, warm and friendly atmosphere,
the Israeli team met with the policy and decision makers at the Headquarters
of the Red Cross and the Federation.

The Israeli team was encouraged by the discussions held, with Dr.
Kellenberger in particular, who reiterated his commitment to bring about the
realization of the Third Protocol and the acceptance MDA, with its emblem,
as a full member of the International Red Cross and to save no efforts in
order to expedite this procedure.

Within the framework of these meetings, ways and means were examined in
order to accelerate the formal inclusion of MDA, with its emblem, within the
lines of the International Red Cross. There is no disputing the fact that
MDA is in fact already incorporated in the activities of the Red Cross in
the humanitarian field, tracing of families, training and special work-shops
for preparation in cases of mass disasters as well as many additional
spheres undertaken by the Red Cross, as the international organization, and
the National Societies within it. The Israeli team also requested the
assistance of the International Red Cross on a governmental level.

Yerucham Mendola
MDA Spokesman
www.mdais.org