Panama’s Ambassador to Israel, Ezra Cohen, Visits Magen David Adom
Panama’s Ambassador to Israel, Mr. Ezra Cohen, visited the Magen David Adom (MDA) headquarters in Kiryat Ono, where he received a comprehensive briefing from MDA Director General Eli Bin on the organization’s activities since its establishment in 1930
The briefing highlighted MDA’s history, beginning as a volunteer-based ambulance organization comprising individuals from all sectors of Israeli society—Jews, Arabs, Christians, Druze, religious and secular—working harmoniously to save lives.
During the visit, Ambassador Cohen toured MDA’s National Dispatch Center in Kiryat Ono and learned about the organization’s preparedness for handling crises, including events such as those on October 7 and the Iron Swords War. He was briefed on three key decisions made by MDA’s Director General on October 7: keeping the night shift on duty, staffing all ambulances, and opening blood donation centers.
The ambassador was also informed about Hamas’ plans to target MDA stations and disable ambulances and mobile intensive care units to prevent medical treatment for victims. Additionally, he learned about the heavy toll on MDA personnel, including the murder of seven staff members while providing medical aid and the loss of 30 MDA volunteers and staff during the Iron Swords War.
Ambassador Cohen was impressed by the professionalism, sensitivity, and composure of MDA’s dispatchers, who handled thousands of emergency calls from terror victims on October 7. He called them heroes and expressed admiration for MDA’s constant readiness and technological capabilities, which enable it to handle 1,000 calls simultaneously.
He also learned about the 35,000 volunteers and employees, the emergency medicycle unit with 650 medicycles, and the 1,800 ambulances and mobile intensive care units operated by MDA, funded by donations from around the world. Additionally, he was introduced to MDA’s blood services and its specialized rescue vehicles, which include five helicopters, two boats, jeeps, ATVs, and more.
The ambassador showed great interest in MDA’s life-saving technologies, developed in-house, the public deployment of defibrillators, and the collaboration between MDA, the police, the fire department, and the IDF, including an MDA-developed system that reduces emergency response times.
Finally, he was presented with the "First 7 Minutes" project, which trains communities worldwide on how to act during the crucial first minutes before an ambulance arrives in cases of terrorism or disaster.
Panama’s Ambassador to Israel, Ezra Cohen:
"Now I understand who is behind the emergency 101 call center and the significance of Israel’s national rescue organization in saving lives. I want to thank you for being there in critical moments. I wholeheartedly wish you continued success in this sacred mission, and if I could bring even one percent of your activities to Panama, I would say it was enough."
MDA Director General, Eli Bin:
"We are proud to host Panama’s Ambassador to Israel, Mr. Ezra Cohen, and to present Magen David Adom’s operations. This visit underscores the importance we place on international cooperation and sharing our knowledge and experience with other countries to save lives worldwide. At the end of the visit, I presented Ambassador Cohen with a model ambulance as a souvenir, which he accepted with great emotion. I am confident that this visit will serve as a foundation for further collaborations in the future."
