August 9, 2007 / 25 Av 5767

As a response to the severe distress of Northern hospitals, the Jewish Agency and the IDB Group will jointly contribute $12 million to hospitals in the North, as part of their partnership in assisting and bolstering Northern communities in the wake of the second Lebanon war.

The Jewish Agency raised donations to fund this project with the IDB, via the  United Jewish Communities' (UJC) Israel Emergency Campaign (IEC) in the wake of  the second Lebanon war. This was decided at a meeting of donor  representatives that took place recently in New York.

In the course of recent visits to the "Rambam" Medical Center in Haifa, the Western Galilee Hospital in Nahariya and the "Ziv" Hospital in Safad, the hospital directors presented building, expansion and equipment acquisition plans to the Chairman of the Jewish Agency Zeev Bielski, and the Chairman of the IDB Group Nochi Dankner. The plans derive from the immediate needs of the population serviced by the hospitals and the security situation in the region

Following these meetings, a decision was reached by the Jewish Agency and the IDB Group to make a joint contribution of $12 million for the following projects:

• The expansion and buttressing of the Emergency Medicine Center (the emergency ward and trauma wards) at the "Rambam" Medical Center
  
• The expansion and construction of an emergency room and crisis center in the Western Galilee Hospital at Nahariya, in addition to the establishment of two maternity wards which will constitute the first element in a new women's health wing in the Western Galilee Hospital at Nahariya.
  
• Purchasing emergency equipment for the "Ziv" Hospital in Safad and assistance towards upgrading the emergency room and operating theaters.

At the event heralding the contribution of $12 million that took place on Thursday, August 9, 2007 at the "Rambam" Medical Center, the cornerstone for the new wing at Rambam was laid and a parchment scroll was signed by Zeev Bielski, Chairman of the Jewish Agency, Ami Erel, President of Daskash of the IDB Group, and Professor Rafael Beyar, the director of the Rambam Medical Center.

The Chairman of the Jewish Agency Zeev Bielski remarked: "This is a contribution of unprecedented size that will save many lives in Israel and will provide a genuine response in emergency situations as well.  The partnership with the IDB group facilitates the provision of more extensive solutions to regional needs and difficulties".

From right to left: Professor Rafael Beyar, Director of the Rambam Medical Center, Zeev Bielski,
Chairman of the Jewish Agency, Ami Erel, President of Daskash of the IDB Group, Rami Mardor, Director General of the IDB Fund.

Nochi Dankner, the Chairman of the IDB Group said: "There is signal importance in the enlistment of the Jewish Agency and the IDB group to aid hospitals in Northern Israel.  The hospitals in the North are providing a vital service at all times - during periods of calm and in emergencies, and this substantial contribution will prove of great assistance in saving lives".

Immediately following the second Lebanon war, Nochi Dankner, Chairman of the IDB group announced that the IDB Group and the group's subsidiaries intended to take action to assist residents of the confrontation line in the North and South during the forthcoming year in the sum of at least 100 million shekels. Since September 2006 until today the objectives of these contributions were selected and commitments totaling 100 million shekels were made.  These funds are being channeled to a hundred projects in the realms of education, health, welfare, culture and sports entirely as aid and contributions on behalf of the confrontation line residents in Israel's North, in Sderot and in the Gaza perimeter.

The Jewish Agency and the IDB group have decided on collaboration to help bolster the Northern residents following the second Lebanon war and in this framework they are working to contribute tens of millions in shekels to promote social, educational and health projects in the North.