Israeli Ambulances Targeted By Terrorists

With the rising threat of war and recent outbreaks of terrorism in Israel, it has become even more challenging for the dedicated men and women of MAGEN DAVID ADOM to fulfill their mission.

As Jerome Baxley, one of our Christian partners from Alabama, discovered when he toured MAGEN DAVID ADOM’s headquarters in Jerusalem recently, life can be a little more complicated in Israel.

MAGEN DAVID ADOM serves as Israel’s national Red Cross organization — and as unthinkable as this may sound — there are terrorists in the countries bordering Israel who consider clearly marked ambulances to be “legitimate” targets of war.

“Some of the ambulances,” Jerome observed, “are armored with bullet-proof glass windows — so they can go into dangerous places to pick up the wounded.”

Its hard to imagine that any nation would need armored ambulances to protect patients and volunteer paramedics from the bullets of terrorists. But in Israel, this is business as usual.

“If an MDA Communications Room comes under attack and the staff is forced to evacuate,” Jerome learned, “they simply grab the large case sitting by the door and carry it with them on their way out. Inside the case is a portable satellite relay system, so as soon as MDA personnel can find a safe place, they set up a temporary command post and get back to work.”

Today, terror groups that threaten Israel, such as Hezbollah, have long-range rockets that can strike anywhere in the nation, putting Israel’s current blood processing facility at risk. Without a safe and abundant blood supply, Israel would not survive long in a war.

A few months ago, MAGEN DAVID ADOM broke ground on a new national blood services center.

When completed in 2020, this new facility will be a heavily fortified underground blood center, designed to withstand rocket attacks and chemical weapons. The facility’s central location, in Ramla, will permit the rapid distribution of blood supplies all over Israel during emergency situations.

Personally, I cannot imagine a more meaningful way to bless the people of Israel than by getting involved with the vital work of MAGEN DAVID ADOM.

Your generous gift will help build the new national blood services center and provide the critical medical supplies, protective gear, and safe ambulances that MAGEN DAVID ADOM must have to save lives.

Shalom,

Pastor Jerry Clark, M.Div.
Director Of Interfaith Outreach
American Friends of Magen David Adom

P.S. Your gift to MAGEN DAVID ADOM literally saves lives in Israel. To thank you for your gift of $20 or more, we will send you a personal size First-Aid Pouch from American Friends of Magen David Adom. This handy little first-aid kit is ideal for your home, automobile, or office, and contains a variety of bandages in several sizes, antiseptic cleaning wipes, alcohol wipes, and sting-relief wipes. Please give your very best gift today.