US Government Criticizes Magen David Adom for Buying European Ambulances with American Donations

For 86 years, American Jews have donated funds to purchase ambulances for Magen David Adom (MDA), Israel's national emergency medical service, through the American Friends of Magen David Adom (AFMDA). Historically, many of these ambulances were American-made, including models from Ford and Chevrolet. However, the US administration recently discovered that millions of dollars raised in the US have been partially used by MDA to buy European-made ambulances, primarily Mercedes vehicles produced in Poland.

A senior US official expressed frustration in a letter to MDA leadership, stating that using American donations to purchase ambulances from European countries perceived as hostile to Israel is unacceptable. This concern aligns with the Trump administration's "America First" policy, which emphasizes prioritizing American economic interests in trade, investment, and foreign policy.

An Israeli official familiar with the matter noted that the US was surprised to learn that hundreds of millions of dollars donated within the US were being spent abroad rather than reinvested in the American economy. Currently, MDA has purchased almost no American-made ambulances in the past three years, shifting mainly to European suppliers.

The question now is whether MDA will align with the US government's expectations or continue procuring European ambulances with American donations. MDA's spokesperson denied receiving any such official complaint from the US government.