US ambassador donates blood to Israeli blood bank

Ambassador Mike Huckabee and his wife visit the national headquarters of Magen David Adom – Israel’s largest emergency response group – and donate blood.

By World Israel News Staff

United States Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee and his wife, Janet Huckabee, donated blood to an Israeli blood bank on Sunday, during a visit to the national headquarters of Israel’s largest emergency first responder organization.

The Huckabees visited Magen David Adom’s (MDA) National Headquarters in Ramla, and were joined by MDA Global President Gilad Erdan, MDA Director-General Eli Bin, Evangelical charity Samaritan’s Purse Israel Director John Silkman, and other senior MDA officials.

During the visit, the ambassador toured MDA’s fortified National Operations Center, equipped with some of the world’s most advanced technologies, developed in-house by MDA. He also met with MDA emergency teams who provided lifesaving treatment to the injured in the field during Operation Rising Lion.

Ambassador Huckabee was shown MDA’s specialized emergency vehicles, including mobile intensive care buses, Unimog casualty evacuation trucks, emergency Medicycles, off-road vehicles, and more.

The Huckabees also visited MDA’s Marcus National Blood Services Center — the world’s first secure, underground facility of its kind, which collects, tests, and supplies blood units to hospitals throughout Israel and the IDF — as well as MDA’s Sussman Human Milk Bank, which provides milk for premature and ill infants whose mothers are unable to nurse.

At the end of the visit, the Ambassador and his wife donated blood.

“There is one thing in common among all the people who make this organization so extraordinary and life-saving — they all share the same goal: to save lives, regardless of religion, language, or nationality,” the ambassador said.

“That’s what makes this organization so special, and that deserves recognition and gratitude.”

Erdan hailed MDA’s efforts during the recent 12-day war with Iran, saying the organization showed itself to be the “backbone of Israel’s resilience.”

“I believe that after the recent operation in Iran, it became clearer — not only to Israelis but to people around the world — that Magen David Adom is truly the backbone of Israel’s resilience.”

“These incredible people — our paramedics, teams, and volunteers — were everywhere within seconds. While everyone else ran into shelters, our teams ran out to save lives.”

MDA Director General Eli Bin thanked the U.S. for American support for Israel, in particular during the war with Iran.

“We owe a tremendous debt of gratitude to the United States and its leadership for their unwavering support over the years. The past two weeks have been critical for Israel.”

Bin also thanked Huckabee personally for his long-standing support of Israel.

“Mr. Ambassador, your contribution to saving lives here is significant. We thank you, Ambassador Huckabee, for your great love and appreciation for the State of Israel.”