MDA stations in West Bank and North saved from cuts
The stations in Shaked and Shavei Shomron were in danger of being closed.
By JUDY SIEGEL-ITZKOVICHUpdated: OCTOBER 30, 2015 05:42Ambulance (illustrative)(photo credit: REUTERS)
Magen David Adom stations in Judea and Samaria will not be closed due to the dangerous security situation, Health Minister Ya’acov Litzman said after meeting with Samaria Regional Council head Yossi Dagan.The new policy was set down following threats that MDA will decrease its ambulance and first-aid activities in the territories and in the North because of budgetary problem. As a result of Litzman’s meeting, MDA’s northern activities were also not reduced.The minister met with Dagan after MDA management sent a letter to the ministry warning that it would have to reduce its activities in the West Bank very soon because of budget problems. The stations in Shaked and Shavei Shomron were in danger of being closed.But following the intensification of terror attacks in the territories, Litzman said MDA’s functioning will not be reduced there or in the North “until further notice.It is unthinkable that budgetary considerations could prevent the civilian population from having medical services in general, and emergency medical services in particular,” Litzman stressed on Wednesday.Dagan thanked Litzman and MDA for their initiative. “We expect to see in all aspects of life the end of this discrimination.The time has come to stop this circus. Every year, we heads of local authorities have to hear that MDA is reducing services in Judea and Samaria due to budget shortages; we are one of the most sensitive places in security, but every year we have to fight for what we deserve to get from the State of Israel. I expect the state to solve the budgetary problems once and for all for us and for settlements in the North.”