Life Beating • Hatzalah paramedic attacked a rival organization paramedic

The struggle between the 'Hatzalah Union' and 'Hatzalah Gush Dan, in Bnei Brak takes a turn for the worse: Monday afternoon police received a report of a MDA paramedic being assaulted on Chazon Ish Street. Ushi Shlomowitz, Hatzalah Gush Dan chairman, complained to police officers who were called to the scene, that he was attacked by Yaakov Borer, a volunteer at the 'Hatzalah Union', whilst treating a patient.

The incident began at 11:55, when the 'Hatzalah Union' received a report on a child's finger amputated at the "Torat Emet' Talmud Torah on Chazon Ish Street in Bnei Brak. The incident was reported to Hatzalah volunteers in Bnei Brak and a MDA ambulance was sent to the scene.

Two Hatzalah medics, who were near the Talmud Torah, gave primary medical care and bandaged the seven year old child's finger which had been cut badly. Later, the child was taken independently by his grandfather for further medical treatment in hospital.

From here onwards things began to go downhill: Yaakov Borer, a Hatzalah driver arrived at the same time as the MDA ambulance driven by Hatzalah Gush Dan chairman – Ushi Shlomowitz. According to the arbitrator, the Magen David Adom ambulances blocked his way and would not allow him to park properly. Following this, he went into the ambulance, took the keys and threw them into the bushes.

Shlomovitz's wife sitting in the ambulance, trying to avoid the volunteer from pulling the keys, and they later both complained that they were attacked by each other. Shlomovitz called the police, and Borer was detained and interrogated by the Dan Region police authorities.

Upon completion of the investigation, Borer was released, with the assistance of attorney - Benjamin Mitzmacher, and filed three complaints to the contrary, arguing that Shlomovitz has been harassing him personally recently. Among others, Borer claimed that during the funeral of Rabbi Avraham Genachovski last week, Shlomovitz - MDA ambulance driver – hit the ambulance Borer was driving, and drove away without giving details.

In another complaint he claimed that he was attacked by Shlomowitz's wife. Third complaint claimed that the forum B'Chadrei Charedim sent a post allegedly sent by Shlomovitz, that he drove an ambulance at the funeral without an appropriate license, during which he claims he holds a license as required by law.

Hatzalah Gush Dan did not waste time - after the keys to the ambulance went missing, they hung a printed sign which read: "This ambulance is used to save lives and submit first aid to the residents of Bnei Barak - by MDA Hatzalah Gush Dan volunteers. This ambulance has been disabled due to its keys being stolen while administering first aid, by an activist in an external organization."

Close to the end of the investigation the keys to the ambulance were found in a nearby tree, and they were handed over to a representative of Magen David Adom.
"Hatzalah Gush Dan rescue organization expressed shock and disgust due to the theft of the MDA ambulance Keys and attacking the wife of CEO Gush Dan rescue organization - Rabbi Ushi Shlomovitz this afternoon on Chazon Ish Street in Bnei Brak", representatives responded to B'Chadrei Charedim, and added: "The MDA organization is protesting against the suspect of these deplorable acts, and against the organization where the man allegedly 'volunteers'."

"Hatzalah Gush Dan clarify that there is no way to violence at the organization, there is no way the volunteers act with violence, and it is sad that some people who are allegedly called 'life-saving' whose job it is to help others and the public, are taking part in a crime and where the distance between concern for the public and their actions are far apart. We call upon the Israeli police that the man held for questioning should be held accountable for his actions, and such serious acts should never be heard of again."

Hatzalah Union's response: "We are talking about a personal conflict between two volunteers, unrelated to either organization. Our examination indicates that the MDA volunteer allegedly caused fury of a volunteer from our organization. However, our volunteer will be summoned to a clarification meeting, so that cases such as these, even if they originate from provocation by the other side, do not recur.
We reject the MDA battalion's cynical attempt to exploit the event in order
to promote and to perpetuate the monopoly of MDA in a way that will compromise the quality of emergency medical services in Israel. 'Hatzalah Union' will not be deterred by the vilification, and volunteers will continue their successful life saving without getting involved in any affairs of ego and honor."

'בחדרי' גם ברשתות החברתיות - הצטרפו!