U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee and his wife, Janet Huckabee, donated blood in Israel during a visit to the facilities of Magen David Adom (MDA), Israel’s emergency services system, on Sunday, June 29.
Also in attendance were Magen David Adom Global President Gilad Erdan, former Israeli ambassador to the U.N.; Magen David Adom Director-General Eli Bin; and Samaritan’s Purse Israel Director John Silkman.
During the visit, Ambassador Huckabee toured MDA’s fortified National Operations Center, equipped with some of the world’s most advanced technologies, developed in-house by MDA personnel. He also met with emergency teams who risked their lives to provide lifesaving treatment during Operation Rising Lion. He was shown MDA’s specialized emergency vehicles, including mobile intensive care buses, Unimog casualty evacuation trucks, emergency Medicycles, off-road vehicles, and more.
The ambassador also visited MDA’s Marcus National Blood Services Center — the world’s first, and perhaps only, underground facility that is shielded from missile, chemical, and biological attacks, made possible by donations from American friends.
“There is one thing in common among all the people who make this organization so extraordinary and lifesaving,” said Ambassador Huckabee. “They all share the same goal: to save lives, regardless of religion, language, or nationality. That’s what makes this organization so special, and that deserves recognition and gratitude.”
The Marcus Center collects, tests, and supplies blood units to hospitals throughout Israel and the Israel Defense Forces and is home to MDA’s Sussman Family Foundation Human Milk Bank, which provides breast 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.
This was the second time in recent days Ambassador Huckabee has shown his support for Magen David Adom. On June 1, he took part in a ceremony in Jerusalem at the Tower of David Museum, dedicating an armored ambulance for MDA. The vehicle was donated by Samaritan’s Purse and Harvest Christian Fellowship, based in Riverside, California. And today, Janet Huckabee — an active volunteer with Samaritan’s Purse — enlisted the help of MDA volunteers to distribute humanitarian aid to evacuees whose homes were destroyed by missile fire from Iran.
Samaritan’s Purse has donated dozens of Life Support Ambulances and Mobile Intensive Care Units, significantly enhancing MDA’s emergency response capabilities, especially in high-risk areas and during times of security crises. In addition to Samaritan’s Purse, the Christian community has been very supportive of MDA over the years.
“Mr. Ambassador, your contribution to saving lives here is significant,” said MDA Director-General, Eli Bin. “We thank you for your great love and appreciation for the State of Israel. The capabilities you saw today — most of them were made possible thanks to supporters of Magen David Adom, especially from the United States. The steadfast support of our American friends has given us the means to save lives. I welcome the strong partnership between Magen David Adom and the United States and thank you for coming here today.”
To learn more about Magen David Adom, visit SavingLivesinIsrael.org.