Local hospitals up for Nobel Prize

JERUSALEM - Hadassah Ein Karem and Hadassah Mount Scopus Hospitals in Jerusalem have been nominated for the 2005 Nobel Peace Prize.

The two leading hospitals, which are both public institutes, have been recognized worldwide for their Unique character.

Although the Nobel Peace Prize committee does not openly publish the names of nominees, Hadassah found out that several academicians and senior government officials from the United States, Britain, Australia, and Israel had submitted their recommendations to the committee. The committee is comprised of five members appointed by the Norwegian parliament.

Hospitals build bridges for peace

The recommendations note three areas for which Hadassah deserves to be awarded the prize.

The first is maintaining equality in providing medical treatment, despite the need to treat more terror victims than in any other medical center.

The second area noted was that Hadassah serves as an exemplary model of cooperation and co-existence, as reflected by the ethnic and religious diversity of its medical staff and patients. The third area noted, which is likely to have the most influence on the committee, is the hospitals’ perseverance in building bridges for peace through their medical activities despite the the Intifada. The committee’s decision is expected to be published in fall.

Hadassah Women's Zionist Organization of America president June Walker, currently visiting Israel for the inauguration of a new emergency ward at the Hadassa Ein Karem Hospital, noted that her organization has been cultivating peace among nations for years.

“Quite frankly, we deserve this prize,” she said “We have always done everything to bring people together without preference or discrimination and we shall continue to do so regardless of the committee.