GENEVA — A new Red Cross emblem was accepted at an international conference today over Syrian objections, paving the way for Israel to join the humanitarian movement.

The 192 signatories of the Geneva Conventions approved the new "red crystal" emblem by a 98-27 vote, with 10 abstentions.

The new emblem — a red square standing on one corner, with a blank white interior and a thick red border — was aimed at resolving a dispute with Israel but also could be used by any national society that feared the red cross used by most countries and the red crescent preferred by Muslim nations would not be respected by combatants.

Israel's Magen David Adom rescue service has used a red Star of David to identify its ambulances and medical workers.

The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies now has to hold a meeting to change the statutes to incorporate the new emblem, after which Israeli membership can be considered.

The red cross symbol was first adopted in 1863 and it reverses the colors of the neutral Swiss flag, without any religious intent. But most Muslim countries refused to use it and the Ottoman empire used the red crescent instead to protect medical workers in the 1876 Russo-Turkish war.