Residents of Samaria donated blood directly to Beilinson hospital instead of through Magen David Adom (MDA), in protest of MDA’s decision to remove the Jewish star from its ambulances operating in Judea and Samaria (Yehuda and Shomron, or Yesha).

MDA reached an agreement with the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) not to use the Jewish star, or Magen David, in Yehuda and Shomron. Three months ago it began to remove the Star of David from the vehicles it operates in the Biblical heartland.

Yehuda and Shomron leaders accuse MDA of bowing before the ICRC, by agreeing to stop operating under its name in Yesha.  

In protest of the decision, Yesha residents took a variety of steps, including replacing the Star of David on ambulances with decals, and curtailing their volunteer activities in MDA.

Last week, MDA representatives contacted the communities of Kfar Tapuach and Peduel in Shomron, asking to coordinate blood donation drives. Both communities answered in the negative, and told the MDA that its presence in their territory is unwelcome.

“Every year MDA holds blood drives in our community,” a resident of Peduel told Arutz Sheva Sunday, but if MDA sees us as being worth less, there is no reason to give them our blood.”