Media Contact: PLUS PR
Josh Silberberg
jsilberberg@pluspr.com

NEW YORK, September 15,2020 – Hadassah, The Women’s Zionist Organization of America, Inc. National President Rhoda Smolow released the following statement today following the signing of the Abraham Accords, establishing full diplomatic ties between Israel and the United Arab Emirates as well as Israel and the Kingdom of Bahrain. “Hadassah applauds the leadership of Israel, the UAE and the Kingdom of Bahrain for seizing the opportunity to change history together. Today’s signing ceremony was a momentous occasion. Twenty-six years after Israel last made peace with an Arab neighbor, the UAE and Bahrain have permanently changed the social, economic, and security landscape of the Middle East by fully normalizing diplomatic relations with Jerusalem.

“Hadassah Medical Organization is seizing this moment to establish new relationships of its own with medical professionals and institutions in both nations. Working together, we can learn from each other and improve the health and well-being of people around the world who seek care at Hadassah’s hospitals in Jerusalem, or at medical facilities in the UAE or Bahrain.

“On October 1, Dr. Uri Pollak, section head of pediatric critical care and the director of pediatric cardiac critical care at Hadassah Hebrew University Medical Center in Jerusalem, will co-chair the first-ever Israel – UAE medical meeting on the future of pediatric cardiac critical care with Dr. Kesava Ramakrishnan, acting division chief of pediatric critical care at Sheikh Khalifa Medical City in Abu Dhabi. They will be joined by internationally recognized experts from Children's National Hospital, Texas Children's Hospital, Cincinnati Children's Hospital, and John's Hopkins. This meeting is the first of what we hope will be countless new connections made possible by the Abraham Accords that will improve life for people around the world.

“A stronger, brighter future is within reach for leaders with a hunger for peace, courage in their hearts, and a vision for making the impossible possible.”

ABOUT HADASSAH: Hadassah, The Women’s Zionist Organization of America, Inc. (HWZOA) is the largest Jewish women’s organization in the United States. With 300,000 members, Associates and supporters Hadassah brings Jewish women together to effect change and advocate on critical issues such as medical care and research and women's empowerment. Through the Hadassah Medical Organization's two hospitals, the world-renowned trauma center and the leading research facility in Jerusalem, Hadassah supports the delivery of exemplary patient care to over a million people every year. HMO serves without regard to race, religion or nationality and earned a Nobel Peace Prize Nomination in 2005 for building “bridges to peace” through equality in medical treatment. For more information, visit my.hadassah.org.