TEL AVIV (June 2, 2009) - After Israeli commandos killed a senior Hamas militant, Abed al-Majid Dudin, in the Hebron area on Thursday, May 28, Abu Obeida, the spokesman for the Iz al-Din al-Qassam Brigades stated that Hamas fighters have been given complete freedom to retaliate at any time and place they deem appropriate. And along Israel's northern border, the Lebanese Army is on full alert, corresponding to Israel's large scale Home Front Command drill that began on May 31 and will run through the week. Hizbullah has also announced that its fighters are ready to respond to any possible aggression.
MDA medical teams MUST remain on high alert in the western Negev and along the Lebanon border in Israel's north, to protect and care for Israel’s people.
Shin Bet Security Service Chief Yuval Diskin told Israel's Cabinet on Sunday, May 31, that while Hamas was working to stop militants in Gaza from firing rockets at Israel, it was nevertheless taking the opportunity to reinforce its own strength in the coastal territory.
"Hamas is working against rocket fire from the Gaza Strip toward Israel, but is simultaneously building its own force within Gaza and is trying to expand its rocket range, both through internal manufacture and the smuggling of proper weapons from Egypt," Diskin told ministers at the weekly cabinet meeting in Jerusalem.
According to Diskin, Hamas' political leadership wants to engage in public relations and the military wing wants to arm itself and to achieve maximum results in efforts to gain the release of Palestinian prisoners held in Israel.
Diskin added that Hamas' "Damascus-based political leaders side with the military wing."
AFMDA BLOOD DONATIONS HIT 1,000 UNITS FOR YEAR, TO DATE
Pace is Double Last Year's as US Visitors Seek Meaningful Way to Support Israel's People
THE BEST GIFT TO BRING BACK FROM ISRAEL
IS THE ONE YOU'LL LEAVE BEHIND
TEL AVIV (May 13, 2009) – The slogan being used for years by American Friends of Magen David Adom, “Saving Lives in Israel,” took on new when AFMDA hosted a blood drive at the US Embassy in Tel Aviv on May 12, 2009 and collected the 1000th unit of blood donated in the organization’s organized blood drives in 2009. The milestone is all the more significant because it is double the number of donors that AFMDA had recruited at this time a year ago, and that it took until October to reach the 1000th donor in 2008. Since 2006, AFMDA has doubled the number of blood units collected in their blood collection events on behalf of Magen David Adom in Israel and is well on pace to do so again in 2009.
The 1000th donor in 2009 was US Marine Sergeant Felipe “Trey” Lopez, III of Austin, TX. Sergeant Lopez found it meaningful to be donating blood in Israel, and noted that it was only the second time he donated blood since joining the Marines.
While the US Embassy and its staff have been long time partners in coordinating blood drives with AFMDA, this blood drive took on extra meaning because it was dedicated in the memory of Daniel Wultz, a 16 year-old American boy who died on May 14, 2006 as a result of injuries sustained in a terror attack in Tel Aviv the previous month. AFMDA has dedicated all its blood drives this month in Daniel’s memory and to date has already collected 325 units of blood for Magen David Adom in May.
Underscoring the important role of Americans donating blood and saving lives in Israel, that the 1000th donor was at the US Embassy and was a US Marine, it is also noteworthy that Daniel Wultz was the cousin of US Congressman Eric Cantor (R-VA).
In addition, two blood drives held the previous week set records as the first and second largest blood drives AFMDA has ever organized. These were organized by enthusiastic students at Yeshivat Torat Shraga and the Michlelet Esther Seminary, recruiting students from several other American yeshiva and seminary programs who noted that the events had special meaning for them as they were the same age as Wultz would be if he had survived.
To be part of the growing trend of Americans donating blood in Israel, for information on arranging a blood drive for your group, or more information regarding American Friends of Magen David Adom, please contact AFMDA at 1.866.632.2763, IsraelOffice@afmda.org, or visit www.afmda.org.
To contribute blood, or to arrange a blood drive for your group, trip or mission while in Israel, please contact IsraelOffice@afmda.org, call 057-761-4220 in Israel or 1-866-632-2763 in the US.
The Top Ten Reasons
Why You Can’t Donate Blood in Israel
Thank you for considering one of the most important donations you can make. There’s no other more meaningful way to do something hands on to help all Israelis.
Magen David Adom is responsible for more than 95% of Israel’s blood supply, and for 100% of blood needed by the IDF.
Nevertheless, for your safety and the integrity of Israel’s blood supply, there are certain criteria that may prevent you from donating blood in Israel. Not all conditions apply to everyone, and if you have a question, it is always best to ask. Yet this list is designed to help save you time and disappointment if you are looking forward to donating blood but may not be eligible.
If these conditions do not apply, you’ll need to arrange a time (for a group) to donate in advance, and have a valid photo ID such as a drivers license or passport.
You are not eligible to donate blood in Israel ….
If you are over 65 you’ll need a note from your doctor that states you are healthy and able to donate blood. Yet if you are 70 or over, you may not donate blood in Israel, even with a doctor’s note.
From ages 17 to 18 you’ll need a note from your parent giving consent. Otherwise you need to be 18 or over.
If you plan to fly (or scuba dive) within 24 hours of donating blood.
If you have lived in Great Britain for six consecutive months or more between 1980 and 1996.
If you weigh under 110 lbs (50 kilos).
If you are pregnant, or have given birth in the last six months.
If you were born or have lived for more than a year since 1977 in a country where HIV is prevalent (Africa, Southeast Asia, Caribbean Islands), or are at risk for carrying or possibly exposed to HIV (AIDS).
If you have a heart condition, malignant diseases, insulin treated diabetes, hemophilia and/or epilepsy, hepatitis and certain other genetic diseases, or if you have a family history of some of these diseases.
If you have taken (or are taking) certain medications (please ask)
IF YOU CANNOT DONATE BLOOD, CONTACT AMERICAN FRIENDS OF MAGEN DAVID ADOM TO ARRANGE A VISIT TO SEE MDA WHILE YOU ARE IN ISRAEL.
For more information, please contact Jonathan Feldstein, Israel Representative, American Friends of Magen David Adom, jfeldstein@afmda.org, 02-993-1744. Or call the Magen David Adom Blood Donation Hotline at 1-800-400-101.
MAGEN DAVID ADOM REUNITES US FAMILY AND GREAT UNCLE WHO SURVIVED THE HOLOCAUST
BAT YAM (April 20, 2009) - Magen David Adom's Search Department recently helped a US diplomat stationed in Moldova to locate his grandfather's brother. The envoy, Joel Wasserman and his sister, Barbara, were reunited with their great uncle, Michael Wasserman, at his Bat Yam geriatric facility last month after volunteers in the MDA's Search Department contacted dozens of old age homes, seeking the elder Wasserman. When found, he was initially excited but also afraid of being disappointed. Only after he met with MDA Search Officer Boris Kozokin and saw his uniform did he believe the story was true.
The story started in March when Magen David Adom received a message from a young man, Joel Wasserman, who identified himself as a US diplomat. He said he had chosen to serve in Moldova because - among other things - he wanted to find a clue to the whereabouts of family members lost in the Holocaust.
After spending years poring over state archives in the former Soviet republic, he by chance found information in the electronic archive of Jerusalem's Yad Vashem Martyrs' and Heroes' Remembrance Authority, indicating that his grandfather's brother Michael had provided pages of testimony in 2001. The testimony showed that Michael lived in an old age home in Netanya, however when they could not locate him MDA went into action, ultimately bringing the family together.
MDA PLAYS MAJOR ROLE IN BIGGEST CIVIL DEFENSE DRILL IN ISRAEL'S HISTORY
Tel Aviv (June 2, 2009) - A siren blast sounded at 11 a.m. on Tuesday, June 2, on Israel's national system of 2,300 sirens, sending Israel's population at home, in schools and workplaces, to secure rooms and shelters for 10 minutes.
Called "Turning Point 3," the drill is being run by the National Emergency Administration which coordinates activities between the Prime Minister's Office, Magen David Adom, the Israel Police, IDF, municipal services and the Home Front Command. Tuesday's drill was only one part of the national exercise, which started Sunday and will continue through Thursday. During the first two days government offices, rescue services and emergency authorities were primarily tested. Tuesday, local authorities are joining the exercise.
Deputy Defense Minister Matan Vilnai visited MDA's new National Command and Control Center on Monday, June 1, in preparation for the Tuesday drill. The MDA command center on Tel Aviv's Derech Yigal Allon is protected by the best new technologies available worldwide and is one of the most technologically advanced in the country, MDA said.
The drill has been described as a "key exercise" to practice different systems and improve the country's national preparedness and response on a systematic level, based on inter-organizational coordination and combined virtual and field exercises.
Together with the other security and rescue organizations, MDA will cope with a long list of emergency situations such as missile attacks on all parts of the country, use of unconventional weapons against the civilian population and an attack on infrastructure and essential facilities.
