Following the Monday afternoon meeting between leaders of Ichud Hatzolah (IH), rabbonim and representatives of Natalie Ambulance Service, it appears that Magen David Adom may lose some of its powerbase as a result of a union between Natalie and IH.

IH rabbonim explained the need to operate within the framework of halacha, with Natalie officials explaining that a merger today would bring the company’s 10 mobile intensive care units into the picture, further adding that if all the private ambulances nationwide join together, they would be speaking about some 400 vehicles.

IH spoke of bringing the organization’s 1,000 volunteers from around the country, who could man the vehicles on a schedule of volunteer shifts, which would result in an increased profit for the companies involved.

Both sides agreed that Natalie will begin an in-depth look at the realities of such an arrangement as well as crunching the numbers and then the two will meet against, hopefully with a more realistic picture of the possibilities of a merger.

IH seems determined to find an alternative to MDA due to the growing dispute between the two organizations. According to reports, MDA is does not appear to be taking any steps to prevent a split, one which according to most will leave MDA compromised regarding its manpower and other resources, as well as ending MDA‘s role as exclusive EMS provider in Israel.

(Yechiel Spira – YWN Israel)