MDA is thankful for the big British contribution

The worsening situation in Israel gave added resonance to Monday's Magen David Adom UK dinner in central London, which raised £1.5 million for medical supplies and immediate response kits.

Israel's main emergency service relies on the diaspora to provide one-third of its annual $150 million (£98 million) budget. Only three per cent is funded by the Israeli government; the majority comes from the insurance companies of those MDA attends to.

Speaking after the dinner, MDA UK chief executive, Daniel Burger, praised the support of British Jews, who have raised more money per capita for the charity than any other diaspora community.

"Of that third [from the diaspora], British Jews raise 15 per cent of funds - around $7 million from 250,000 Jews. In America, there are six million Jews and they raise around $30 million. Israelis give very little. They're slowly starting to become philanthropic. Israelis don't know that MDA is supported by the diaspora."