Israel’s Magen David Adom was finally admitted to the International Red Cross “ending decades of exclusion linked to the Jewish state’s refusal to accept the traditional cross symbol”. Let’s pause for a moment to fully appreciate the absurdity of excluding Israel’s medical and humanitarian organization because it refuses to adopt the overtly Christian symbol. Are Muslim countries required to use the red cross as their symbol? Of course not.

The simple red cross on a white background — the reversal of colors of the Swiss flag — was adopted as the emblem of the movement when it was founded in 1863 by Swiss humanitarians trying to care for battlefield casualties who otherwise were left to suffer.

But the symbol unintentionally reminded Muslims of the Christian Crusaders, and they insisted on their own red crescent in the 19th century.

When Israel’s society bid for membership was turned down in 1949, it objected to using either the cross or the crescent, and the Red Cross movement refused to admit yet another emblem.

Because admitting another emblem is so costly and difficult, right? So has the Red Cross finally permitted Magen David Adom to use the Jewish star? Sort of.

The decision early Thursday completed a complicated process that included the creation of the optional, third emblem — a blank, red-bordered square standing on one corner — that could stand alone or frame the Israeli society’s red star.

The emblem — dubbed the “red crystal” — was approved over Muslim objections in a hard-fought diplomatic conference last December. But that was only the first step, and the conference was called to complete the job.

Is anybody surprised that the Muslim representatives objected? Anybody at all? I wonder if the objections had any content at all, besides “we hate Jews”.