Soroka Medical Center in Beersheva will receive 1 billion shekels (more than $300 million)—one-third from the state, one-third from the Clalit Health Services health fund (think HMO) and an additional $100 million donation from Israeli-Canadian philanthropist Sylvan Adams—to rebuild and fortify its facilities following severe damage from an Iranian missile attack in June.
Israeli Finance and Health ministry officials announced on Sunday a five-year, 360 million shekel ($111 million) investment plan to strengthen the hospital.
Adams, calling his donation—the largest ever to Soroka—"a great honor,” joined Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at Sunday’s Cabinet meeting to unveil the project, which will include a new, reinforced hospitalization tower.
Additional philanthropic support includes $50 million from the Palo-Alto, Calif.-based Koum Family Foundation and $15 million from the Helmsley Charitable Trust. The latter announced last week a $10 million donation to build an underground emergency hospital at Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center’s (Ichilov) new Alrov Rehabilitation Tower, currently under construction.
Netanyahu praised Adams for his ongoing commitment, calling Soroka a “national asset to the Negev and all of Israel.”
Soroka, the largest hospital in southern Israel, sustained significant damage when a missile hit its surgical wing during a broader Iranian assault on June 19. Most patients had been moved to protected areas beforehand, preventing mass casualties, though more than 70 people had to be treated for injury or shock.
Despite the damage, Soroka’s staff continued to provide emergency care.
The Israeli government condemned the attack as a violation of international law.
