Last update - 00:00 09/01/2007
Only 12 MKs donate for Magen David Adom Knesset blood drive
By Gideon Alon and Tamara Traubmann, Haaretz Correspondent
Only two ministers and 12 MKs donated blood on Monday in Magen David Adom's (MDA) blood drive at the Knesset, initiated due to the acute shortage in the blood bank.
Avigdor Lieberman (Yisrael Beiteinu) and Eitan Cabel (Labor) were the only ministers to donate blood. The MKs who donated blood were Ruhama Avraham, Yoel Hasson and Majali Wahabi of Kadima; Haim Oron, Ran Cohen and Yossi Beilin of Meretz; Arye Eldar and Nissan Slomiansky of the National Union-National Religious Party; Sofa Landver of Yisrael Beiteinu; and Ami Ayalon of Labor.
The donations of 75 Knesset staffers brought the total of donated blood units in the Knesset to 92.
MDA spokesman Yerucham Mendola was pleased with the response to the blood
drive.
The Meretz gay youth movement Our Colors on Monday called on MDA to revoke the clause banning the use of blood from homosexual donors. MDA rules stipulate that if the donor maintains a lifestyle of "sexual relations with men" his blood must not to be used.
Present donors are requested to fill out a questionnaire that includes a
question about homosexual relations. The movement announced that it would act to revoke this clause and wipe away the equation of gays with AIDS.