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As International EMS week came to a close there was some good news on the horizon for Israelis from all backgrounds and religions. United Hatzalah put another 180 emergency ambucycles on the road on Friday enabling the organization’s volunteers to be able to respond to medical emergencies faster. The organization is hoping to cut down their 3-minute average response time even further with the influx of the new fleet of vehicles that were inaugurated at the single largest inauguration of EMS vehicles in the country’s history.

The vehicles were on display at a special ceremony held at Hangar 11 at the Tel Aviv port. The 180 new ambucycles will join the existing fleet of vehicles and give the organization more than 600 active ambucycles on the road. Currently one out of every five volunteers in the organization uses an ambucycle to respond to emergencies across the country. The organization also unveiled its new logo during the inauguration.

Attendees of the ceremony included such VIPs as the US Ambassador to Israel Mr. David Friedman, the Chief Rabbi of Tel Aviv – Jaffa Rabbi Yisrael Meir Lau Shlita, as well as internationally acclaimed businessmen and philanthropists, Leonardo Farkas, Isy Danon, Amy & Harlan Korenvaes, Leon Falic, Mark and Erica Gerson, and Harel Insurance Directors Yair and Ilana Hamburger.

Supporters of the organization from across the Israeli spectrum attended the event and witnessed the special dedication of an ambucycle in honor of fallen EMT Efraim Gadassi, whose three small children took to the stage to accept the vehicle.

Israeli Television celebrities, as well as fashion models, also came out to show their support of the EMS organization. Among them were modeling sensations, Ruslana Rodina, Alexa Dol and Anna Aharonov. Reality TV stars who came to show their support included Ma’ayan Adam, Masgano Mangisto, Eden Saban and Indel Cabda.

United Hatzalah Chairman Mark Gerson together with the organization’s Founder and President Eli Beer, honored Farkas, Danon, Hamburger, Korenvaes, and Falic, with keys to the organization to thank them for their continued support.

Danon took the opportunity to dedicate a pair of ambucycles to the organization in honor of US President Donald Trump and Ambassador Friedman. Friedman was on hand to accept the ambucycles and spoke about his pride in the organization of which he has been a proud supporter for the last decade.

Photo Credit – Ze’ev Green: Video credit – United Hatzalah

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)