Addressing many chareidi volunteers of Magen David Adom at a gathering, MK (Shas) Yoav Ben-Tzur told them, “There are those chareidim and non-chareidim, not you folks, who take cameras with them and photograph, clearly pointing a finger at United Hatzalah volunteers.

Needless to say this resulted in a storm among United Hatzalah officials, who were surprised to hear this came from a chareidi MK of all people.

Some explain that Ben-Tzur knows Shas chairman Aryeh Deri is close to MDA officials and the MK did it to find favor in the party leaders’ eyes. Whatever the case may be, Ben-Tzur realized his faux pas and was quick to tweet an explanation, that “anyone who saves a life in Israel is as if he saved and entire world. I wish to clarify in my address, I did not intend to insult anyone. My comments were addressed only at those few who during the heat of things forget the kovod and privacy of the victims”.

It is pointed out that despite his apology, the issue of first responders taking photos and then quickly distributing them to the media for press coverage has been discussed in Knesset and the matter is viewed as a most serious one, nothing less than total violation of patient privacy and a lack of concern for family and friends of victims, who all too often learned of tragedy via the media instead of via official sources.

“כל המציל נפש אחת בישראל כאילו הציל עולם ומלואו”.
שמחתי מאוד להתארח באירוע של מד”א והצלה לקליטת 100 מתנדבים. כן ירבו כמוכם!
אבקש להבהיר כי בנאומי לא הייתה לי כוונה לפגוע באף אחד. דבריי כוונו אך ורק לבודדים שלעיתים בלהט העשייה שוכחים את כבוד האדם ופרטיותו. pic.twitter.com/82mAS9P8JV

— יואב בן צור (@BentzurYoav) June 4, 2018

(YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)