Unlikely recipient for Jewish kidney

By ERIC SILVER

A 7-year-old Palestinian girl has been given a kidney, and with it a new life, from Yoni Jesner, a Scottish student killed in a Hamas suicide bombing last week.

Yasmin Abu Ramila, from East Jerusalem, was in a stable condition at a Tel Aviv hospital yesterday.

With tanks and bulldozers still in action 16km away in Ramallah, Ari Jesner, the victim's eldest brother, said in Jerusalem: "The family is delighted, honoured and proud that we have been able to join in saving the life of another human being, even if it was in such tragic circumstances."

Jesner, 26, a lawyer in London, said the girl's nationality or religion did not matter.

"The most important thing was we could save another person's life. The donation was unconditional. Our role ended when we decided to donate."

His brother, Yoni Jesner, 19, who had been studying for a year at a Yeshiva, a Jewish religious school, was buried in Jerusalem on Saturday after dying from injuries inflicted when a Palestinian blew himself up on a Tel Aviv bus. Five Israelis were also killed.

The Jesner family, from Glasgow, donated all Yoni's vital organs.

Asked if they would meet Yasmin's family, Jesner said: "We haven't thought about it yet. We are in mourning. Our nerves are still so raw, the wounds so open. But it could happen in the future if they ask to meet us."

Yasmin's mother, Rina Abu Ramila, was at her bedside in Ichilov hospital last night.

"I don't know what to say to thank the bereaved family," she said.

"I grieve for their loss and thank them for their donation, which saved the life of my daughter."

Jasmin had been on dialysis for two years waiting for a donor.

Yoni Jesner was the fifth British citizen killed since the intifada began two years ago.

- INDEPENDENT


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