Emanuel Family Donates $550,000 for Palestinian Doctor Training in Israel
The three Emanuel brothers, Ram, Ezekiel, and Ari, are donating $550,000 (approximately 1.64 million shekels) to train Palestinian pediatric medical staff at Tel Aviv's Ichilov Medical Center. Ram Emanuel, former White House Chief of Staff under President Obama and former U.S. Ambassador to Japan, is the most prominent of the brothers and is considered a potential Democratic presidential candidate in 2028.
The donation, announced by the organization Rozana, which promotes medical cooperation between Israelis and Palestinians, will fund the training of 11 pediatricians and 36 nurses from An-Najah University Hospital in Nablus. This program aims to facilitate the establishment of a new children's hospital in the northern West Bank, the first of its kind in the region. An-Najah Hospital currently serves as a referral center for approximately 1.3 million people, including nearly 585,000 children.
The contribution honors the brothers' parents, the late Dr. Benjamin Emanuel, a pediatrician, and Marsha Emanuel, a former radiology technician and caregiver. The brothers stated that their parents believed no child should be without medical care, and this donation will ultimately provide better treatment for Palestinian children while fostering trust between Israeli and Palestinian medical professionals.
Ram Emanuel visited Israel in July, touring Ichilov Medical Center and learning about its assistance to the Palestinian health system. The training at Ichilov will cover specialized fields such as neurosurgery, neurology, hemato-oncology, orthopedics, respiratory care, and pediatric intensive care, including for premature infants. The training will also include ventilation technician training, a specialty currently unavailable in the Palestinian Authority.
Kenneth Bob, Chairman of Rozana in the U.S., called the donation the organization's largest ever private contribution, describing it as a strategic investment in West Bank healthcare and medical diplomacy. Dr. Ayd Makbol, Director General of An-Najah Hospital, welcomed the initiative, emphasizing its importance for children and families in the northern West Bank.
