MDA Global President Gilad Erdan, speaking at the Jerusalem Post Gala at the Israeli Embassy in Washington on Tuesday evening, said that he decided to join the organization after serving as Israel’s Ambassador to the United Nations because Israel’s enemies deliberately targeted the home front, firing on Magen David Adom ambulances and attacking Magen David Adom paramedics.
“Our enemies know that they cannot defeat the IDF, because we are too strong for them,” said Erdan. “Instead, they target the home front because that’s where they think we are weaker. They want to terrorize our civilians and drive us away from our homeland in fear. I learned during the war that our enemies know that Magan David Adom is the backbone of Israel’s resilience, so they deliberately targeted our paramedics. The Shin Bet found documents on Nukhba terrorists instructing them to attack Magen David Adom paramedics. I joined Magen David Adom to make sure that our warriors in white have whatever is needed to save lives in the Holy Land.”
Erdan said that Magen David Adom’s lifesaving activities are key to defeating Israel’s enemies. “When people know that help from Magen David Adom is on the way within seconds – when they know that Magan David Adom is equipped with state-of-the-art equipment, with armored ambulances and trained paramedics deployed everywhere in Israel, and we can save people within seconds – that’s the way to thwart and foil the vicious plans of our enemies. Our first responders today are so important.”
Erdan added that a second reason he joined Magen David Adom was to counter what he termed “four years of fighting inside an organization of sheer evil – the UN,” by joining an organization of pure good – Magen David Adom. “What can be more sacred and good than saving lives in Israel – the Holy Land,” he said.
A short film highlighting the heroism of Magen David Adom’s paramedics during the war was screened at the event. Erdan presented Shira Hovav and Raphael Herbst, representing Magen David Adom’s paramedics who risked their lives on the front lines, with a special Jerusalem Post Group award in gratitude and appreciation of the organization’s 95 years of lifesaving, dedication, and mutual responsibility.
This article was written in collaboration with Magen David Adom.