After attending Mandela’s memorial, Knesset member’s blood rejected in gov’t drive because she is African

[PalestineMyHeart 1,897]

After attending Mandela’s memorial, Knesset member’s blood rejected in gov’t drive because she is African

Allison Deger on December 11, 2013

The day after returning from anti-Apartheid leader Nelson Mandela’s memorial in South Africa, Israel’s first Ethiopian-born Knesset member Pnina Tamano-Shata (Yesh Atid), had her blood refused in a government donation drive because she is African. Volunteers at a Magen David Adom (Red Star of David—Israel’s Red Cross) booth set up inside of Knesset told Tamano Shata that she could not give blood because she is has “the special kind of Jewish-Ethiopian blood.”

Tamano-Shata explained that she is a member of Knesset, served in the Israeli army and asked to speak to a manager about her blood’s rejection. She was then told her credentials didn’t matter. The Heath Ministry has a policy against taking blood from people who live in Ethiopia, which they categorize as a high-HIV rate country. Tamano-Shata was born in Ethiopia and at the age of three, moved to Israel in 1984.

From Ynet News:

After pushing the matter further, Tamano-Shato was informed she could donate but that her blood would be frozen and not used.

In response, she told the MDA: ‘I’m good enough to serve the country in the Knesset, but for some reason, to donate blood, I’m not good enough… this is insulting.’

The supervisor responded by saying ‘sweetheart, don’t be insulted, your’re right but these are the Health Ministry’s directives.’ A man present at the scene, told Tamano-Shato as she was exiting, ‘what can you expect, this is a racist country.’ [sic]

Still in Israel there is an unfortunate history of medical institutions refusing blood donations from Africans, and Tamano-Shata has been at the helm of decades of protests to peel back these discriminatory regulations. When she was 16 she led demonstrations to integrate the blood bank’s donation policy, and again in 2006. That year Israeli Channel 2 aired a report exposing that Magen David Adom dumps blood donated by Ethiopians.

From Ynet:

‘We fight and die in the army, go on to study, but that is not enough. It’s inconceivable that a person comes to donate blood and is tricked into thinking that he is saving another life,’ says Gadi Yevrakan, a member of the Ethiopian community from Rehovot.

‘He sits, a needle enters his body, a considerable amount of blood is drawn from him, and yet the minute he turns his head they toss his blood to the garbage.’

A few of Tamano-Shata’s colleagues condemned the blood blank’s racist policy. She even got a call from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. From the Jerusalem Post:

Knesset Speaker Yuli Edelstein spoke to Tamano-Shata and expressed shock and displeasure at the incident.

‘I thought this was behind us, but now it turns out I was wrong. This unacceptable phenomenon that has no place in the Knesset,’ Edelstein said.

Several ministers and MKs called the Yesh Atid MK to express solidarity. Culture and Sport Minister Limor Livnat said that she hopes that something good will come out of the story and change the ‘racist and humiliating policy.’

In addition to trashing blood donated from Ethiopians, last year two Tel Aviv hospitals adopted policies to segregate and African asylum seekers from the general public, and refuse treatment until tests for tuberculosis are completed. The pilot project began after one hospital quarantined a refugee and his ill infant in a locked nurses’ changing room, refusing the sick child treatment until blood was drawn and tested.

http://mondoweiss.net/2013/12/attending-memorial-rejected.html

[GandD 5,966]

I'm starting to think you don't like Israel.

[Merrytooth 5,748]

I'm starting to think you don't like Israel.

You are slow...

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

I'm starting to think you don't like Israel.

Reading that OP piece, I'm starting to think I don't like Israel either. That's a really effed up place.

[Merrytooth 5,748]

Been to Israel in Oct. Jerusalem is beautiful.

People are nice, with sense of humor.

[GandD 5,966]

People of countries should not be judged when judging a country IMO.

[PalestineMyHeart 1,897]

I'm starting to think you don't like Israel.

Is anyone really required to like anything ?

[PalestineMyHeart 1,897]

I really don't know what your beef is - perhaps you can be more specific about what exactly it is that you object to. This story is all over Israeli media - the OP article quotes several of them. It even mentions government officials who are speaking out about it.

VJ... sheesh...

Edited December 13, 2013 by Kathryn41
edited to remove quoted removed content

[PalestineMyHeart 1,897]

Reading that OP piece, I'm starting to think I don't like Israel either. That's a really effed up place.

It's an outrageous policy, but please realize that many people in Israel are outraged about it as well - the OP article mentions some of them. Shining a public light on it is the best way to encourage a change in that policy.

[elmcitymaven 9,712]

It's an outrageous policy, but please realize that many people in Israel are outraged about it as well - the OP article mentions some of them. Shining a public light on it is the best way to encourage a change in that policy.

I guess we're not allowed to criticise the policies of other nations. I mean, when was the last time criticism of the policies of the UK, Canada, Iran, Zimbabwe, Russia, Ukraine, etc. was permitted on VJ? It's simply unheard of.

[sandinista! 1,816]

What part of shining a light on outdated, not scientifically supported, and blatantly bigoted practices by the Israeli Health Ministry in regards to this woman's blood donation is not allowed on VJ?

Edited December 13, 2013 by Kathryn41
to remove quoted removed content

[elmcitymaven 9,712]

What part of shining a light on outdated, not scientifically supported, and blatantly bigoted practices by the Israeli Health Ministry in regards to this woman's blood donation is not allowed on VJ?

Sunshine, as they say, has always been the best disinfectant. If the Ministry can back up their claims with science, fine. Why shouldn't we call BS on this policy if there is nothing but bigotry (apparently) to support it?

[GandD 5,966]

Is anyone really required to like anything ?

Long walks on the beach from what I hear.

[PalestineMyHeart 1,897]

Long walks on the beach from what I hear.

Now you're talking ! From my recent trip to Port A (the "Redneck Riviera"):

[TBoneTX 45,309]

This is one of the most ridiculous posts I've ever seen.

Every country has the right to set and adhere to its own policies - but since when has that ever meant those policies are off limits in regards to conversation on VJ?

One post edited to remove an inappropriate wording of an opinion; rest of post returned.