TEL AVIV (June 2, 2009) - After Israeli commandos killed a senior Hamas militant, Abed al-Majid Dudin, in the Hebron area on Thursday, May 28, Abu Obeida, the spokesman for the Iz al-Din al-Qassam Brigades stated that Hamas fighters have been given complete freedom to retaliate at any time and place they deem appropriate. And along Israel's northern border, the Lebanese Army is on full alert, corresponding to Israel's large scale Home Front Command drill that began on May 31 and will run through the week. Hizbullah has also announced that its fighters are ready to respond to any possible aggression.

MDA medical teams MUST remain on high alert in the western Negev and along the Lebanon border in Israel's north, to protect and care for Israel’s people. 

THE BEST GIFT TO BRING BACK FROM ISRAEL IS THE ONE YOU'LL LEAVE BEHIND

TEL AVIV (May 13, 2009 ) - The slogan being used for years by American Friends of Magen David Adom, “Saving Lives in Israel,”  took on new when AFMDA hosted a blood drive at the US Embassy in Tel Aviv on May 12, 2009 and collected the 1000th unit of blood donated in the organization’s organized blood drives in 2009.  The milestone is all the more significant because it is double the number of donors that AFMDA had recruited at this time a year ago, and that it took until October to reach the 1000th donor in 2008.  Since 2006, AFMDA has doubled the number of blood units collected in their blood collection events on behalf of Magen David Adom in Israel and is well on pace to do so again in 2009. The 1000th donor in 2009 was US Marine Sergeant Felipe “Trey” Lopez, III of Austin, TX.  Sergeant Lopez found it meaningful to be donating blood in Israel, and noted that it was only the second time he donated blood since joining the Marines.

BAT YAM (April 20, 2009) - Magen David Adom's Search Department recently helped a US diplomat stationed in Moldova to locate his grandfather's brother.  The envoy, Joel Wasserman and his sister, Barbara, were reunited with their great uncle, Michael Wasserman, at his Bat Yam geriatric facility last month after volunteers in the MDA's Search Department contacted dozens of old age homes, seeking the elder Wasserman.  When found, he was initially excited but also afraid of being disappointed.  Only after he met with MDA Search Officer Boris Kozokin and saw his uniform did hebelieve the story was true.

Tel Aviv (June 2, 2009) - A siren blast sounded at 11 a.m. on Tuesday, June 2, on Israel's national system of 2,300 sirens, sending Israel's population at home, in schools and workplaces, to secure rooms and shelters for 10 minutes. Called "Turning Point 3," the drill is being run by the National Emergency Administration which coordinates activities between the Prime Minister's Office, Magen David Adom, the Israel Police, IDF, municipal services and the Home Front Command. Tuesday's drill was only one part of the national exercise, which started Sunday and will continue through Thursday. During the first two days government offices, rescue services and emergency authorities were primarily tested. Tuesday, local authorities are joining the exercise.  Deputy Defense Minister Matan Vilnai visited MDA's new National Command and Control Center on Monday, June 1, in preparation for the Tuesday drill.