Israel opens £104million missile-proof blood centre

Israel’s new $130 million (£104m) missile-proof blood centre, built with the help of UK donors, has been officially opened by President Isaac Herzog. 

British donors raised $15 million for the Marcus National Blood Services Center, which has been lauded as Israel’s most protected civilian building, and the safest blood bank in the world.

Former constituents of the murdered British MP, Sir David Amess, donated £1,800 on his behalf, dedicating a mezuzah in his honour.

Linda Burns, from Southend and Westcliff friends of Magen David Adom (MDA), said of the MP: “He was the most wonderful person in Southend. He was an inspiration, a true friend to all Jewish people. He came to Israel; everybody loved him.”

Thirty-five mezuzot donated by MDA UK were designed by Israeli students at Bezalel Academy of Arts and Design, and chosen for the centre in a cash prize competition.

MDA chair Russell Jacobs said: “Blood has no racial type. The idea behind the competition was to be inclusive because that is Israel.”

Donors from America and England gathered for the opening of the centre, which is expected to double Israel’s annual blood processing capacity.

Herzog thanked donors in Hebrew and English for their help constructing Israel’s largest capital project. He said: “In Israel, every 17 seconds someone needs a blood transfusion. In a world where we have learnt to print a heart on a 3D printer, blood itself has no alternative.

“Blood is life. It is the liquid of life and is the essence of humanity.
We are brothers and sisters and even if we disagree, donating blood and saving lives is above all.

“To receive a blood transfusion, the replaceable gift of life, from complete strangers, is a stark reminder that we are one living, breathing tapestry of humanity, now safeguarded in this impressive centre.”

Defence minister Benny Gantz said: “Leonardo da Vinci once said [that] water is the driving force of all nature. We all know water is the most precious of resources. Water is life.

“Yet we are all gathered  here because we have learnt to store, protect and distribute another valuable resource – blood. And while talk of blood donations may sound trivial, today in a way is historic and the Marcus National Blood Services Center is a national treasure, which will save countless lives.”

Israeli health minister Nitzan Horowitz said: “The building can continue to work during war times and provide blood supplies in the coming decades. This is our national and precious blood bank.

“Until today, MDA staff would have to move the blood units to the bomb shelter. This is a complex and dangerous task. Today we fulfil the dream of opening a modern protected national blood services centre.”

The centre’s namesake, Home Depot co-founder Bernie Marcus – who donated $35m to the project – sent a video message to those in attendance. He said: “On a visit many years ago to Israel’s blood bank, amid the missile and rocket attacks,  I realised how delicate and vulnerable the blood system was.

“I am happy we participated in the construction of this wonderful building, where Israel’s blood supply will be protected for all its citizens.”

Other big benefactors, including Miriam and the late Sheldon Adelson, The Leona M. & Harry B. Helmsley Charitable Trust, and Bloomberg Philanthropies, were personally thanked.

The blood centre, which is located in Ramla, took four years and 11,000 tonnes of steel to build. It stores blood in a 300sqm safe room protected from terror attacks, rocket fire
and earthquakes.

Inside, there are three security zones and the three underground floors are shielded from attacks by extra-thick concrete walls, blast doors and airlocks.

The centre was built to cope with Israel’s growing population and its increasing need for blood supplies. MDA’s current blood services centre was built in the 1980s and is not large enough to cope with demand.