Family of Terror Victim Uses Damages Paid by Iran to Save Lives

A terror victim’s family sued Iran for damages, won the case and dedicated an ambulance in memory of their loved one.

On June 11, 2003, Alan Beer and 16 others were murdered by a terrorist who blew himself up on the 14a bus at the Davidka Square in the center of Jerusalem.

Beer’s family subsequently sued Iran for damages over its support of terrorism and were victorious in court.

The family received only a fraction of the damages awarded to them. They decided to use the money for a meaningful cause and donated a mobile intensive care ambulance that will save lives in the city in which Alan was murdered.

Exactly 14 years later, to the day, in the very spot of the terror attack, Alan’s relatives stood together with family members of other victims as well as with EMS and hospital personnel who treated the victims of that heinous attack. In their presence, the ambulance was unveiled and a Torah scroll was completed and dedicated in honor of the victims. The Torah was later taken to a yeshiva in Efrat in a joyous procession.

Alan hailed from Cleveland, Ohio, and was a new immigrant to Israel.  He had been in the country for only a few months when his life was cut short by the tragic attack at the age of 46.

Cookie Maisel, his sister, spoke at the dedication and said that “Alan loved Jerusalem. He loved it and he loved the people in it. He loved talking with them and hearing their stories. It is why he took the bus instead of driving his own car. What better way to pay tribute to him than by dedicating an ambulance that will save the lives of people in the city that he loved so much.”

The ambulance was dedicated to United Hatzalah and will serve as the organization’s first ICU ambulance. It will also be the first ICU ambulance in the country to provide free service to all citizens in need.

Closing a Circle

Dov Maisel, Alan’s nephew and vice-president of International Operations of United Hatzalah, was one of the first EMS responders at the scene of the attack 14 years ago. He found his uncle amid the rubble after the blast.

“Today, in this very spot, we are closing a circle. Fourteen years ago, my uncle Alan was murdered together with 16 other people, while over 100 were injured amid the chaos of the 14a bus bombing. At this place, where friends and family members lost their lives, we are inaugurating a new mobile intensive care unit that will save lives,” he stated.

Eli Beer, president and founder of United Hatzalah, said after the event that “this ICU ambulance will join the other 24 active ambulances across the country and will save lives of all citizens of Israel, regardless of race, religion or background.”

“We are incredibly excited as an organization to honor the memory of our beloved Alan Beer, whose life was taken from us before his time. By helping us to save lives in Israel we hope that his memory may live on among the heroes of Israel. Alan’s family was generous enough to donate the mobile ICU to United Hatzalah so that this vehicle will be able to save lives without cost to the patients.”

“Being able to inaugurate the vehicle in the very spot that Alan’s life was taken away, together with 16 other victims of the heinous attack, has brought a small sense of relief to the family and to all of us as a nation,” he concluded.

By: United with Israel Staff