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| Pnina Tamano-Shata |
(Scroll down for video) A Black Israeli Knesset member is furious after a blood donation service refused to accept her blood donation because she is black.
Now, the President of the Israeli Parliament, ordered the blood collection agency to leave the premises of the legislature on Wednesday, after rejecting an offer of a blood donation by the legislator of Ethiopian origin.
Member of Knesset Pnina Tamano-Shata, 32, wanted to donate blood during a routine visit by the ambulance service, but was told by a crew member that she cannot donate because she immigrated to Israel from Ethiopia, when she was three-years-old.
The Ministry of Health bars Israeli people born in most African countries from donating blood because of a fear that they carry HIV.
"Clearly my blood samples were checked before and there has never been any cause for concern. However, there is an attitude of not bothering to examine blood donations from Ethiopian immigrants even though they know that it humiliates an entire community," Tamano-Shata said.
"There should be no differentiation among the blood of the people of Israel. All citizens of Israel are equal," Israeli President Shimon Peres said.
Health Minister Yael German described the incident as unfortunate, and said she would call for a public inquiry to change the guidelines. A parliamentary committee is set to discuss the incident next week.