Online Lecture: The Integration of Zionism in International Humanitarian Law

Online Lecture: The Integration of Zionism in International Humanitarian Law
Professor Michael Bar Ilan, in collaboration with the Katz Center, the University of Pennsylvania, and the Weitzman Jewish Museum

You are invited to watch the second lecture in the “Trauma and Healing in Israel Today” series, now available online.

The struggle for international recognition of Magen David Adom (Red Star of David) as a symbol of medical neutrality highlights the complex intersection of Zionism and international humanitarian law. Despite extensive efforts, the symbol faced significant opposition from the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), reflecting broader challenges in aligning Jewish, Zionist, and national identity with global humanitarian standards. This case also offers insight into the unique ethos of the IDF Medical Corps and its dedication to humanitarian efforts worldwide.

Professor Michael Bar Ilan is an internal medicine physician, a faculty member at Tel Aviv University’s School of Medicine, and an expert in the social history of medicine and medical ethics. He served as an academic advisor for the International Committee of Military Medicine’s (Switzerland) first ethics workshops and has published extensively on military medical ethics and disaster response ethics.