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CNN Live Today
Jewish Victim's Kidney Donated to Palestinian Girl
Aired September 23, 2002 - 13:24 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: Bloodshed in the Middle East has cost countless lives. Now, in an ironic twist, the violence has given life.
Here is Jerusalem bureau chief Mike Hanna.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
MIKE HANNA, CNN JERUSALEM BUREAU CHIEF (voice-over): Yasmin Abu Ramila now has a chance of a normal life. After two years of undergoing dialysis while on a transplant waiting list, the 7-year-old Palestinian girl has received a new kidney. The donor: a Jewish teenager, who died of wounds sustained in a Palestinian terror attack in Tel Aviv last week.
Eighteen-year-old Jonathan Jesner from Glasgow was studying at a Jewish seminary in Israel, taking a year out before pursuing a medical degree in London.
His brother says that Jonathan believed in the sanctity of life.
ARI JESNER, JONATHAN'S BROTHER: The principle of saving life is one of the greatest principles and values in Judaism, and one of the greatest principles and values upon which the state of Israel is based.
The family is very proud that out of this tragic situation and Yoni's (ph) death, we were able, and that Yoni (ph) was able, to give life to others. And I think the most important principle here is that life was given to another human being. I think it's unimportant what religion, what nationality, race, religion, culture, creed is not what is important here.
HANNA: And not important either to Yasmin's mother and grandfather, whose joy that she received a kidney is tempered by grief for the dead donor.
"We are happy and unhappy, because of what happened to Yoni (ph)," says Farouk (ph). "We are happy for our girl, but sad for the boy. For all of us to be happy, both of them should be alive."
From a Jewish teenager to a Palestinian girl, the gift of life, bringing to another's face a smile.
Mike Hanna, CNN, Jerusalem.
(END VIDEOTAPE) TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com.
Aired September 23, 2002 - 13:24 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: Bloodshed in the Middle East has cost countless lives. Now, in an ironic twist, the violence has given life.
Here is Jerusalem bureau chief Mike Hanna.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
MIKE HANNA, CNN JERUSALEM BUREAU CHIEF (voice-over): Yasmin Abu Ramila now has a chance of a normal life. After two years of undergoing dialysis while on a transplant waiting list, the 7-year-old Palestinian girl has received a new kidney. The donor: a Jewish teenager, who died of wounds sustained in a Palestinian terror attack in Tel Aviv last week.
Eighteen-year-old Jonathan Jesner from Glasgow was studying at a Jewish seminary in Israel, taking a year out before pursuing a medical degree in London.
His brother says that Jonathan believed in the sanctity of life.
ARI JESNER, JONATHAN'S BROTHER: The principle of saving life is one of the greatest principles and values in Judaism, and one of the greatest principles and values upon which the state of Israel is based.
The family is very proud that out of this tragic situation and Yoni's (ph) death, we were able, and that Yoni (ph) was able, to give life to others. And I think the most important principle here is that life was given to another human being. I think it's unimportant what religion, what nationality, race, religion, culture, creed is not what is important here.
HANNA: And not important either to Yasmin's mother and grandfather, whose joy that she received a kidney is tempered by grief for the dead donor.
"We are happy and unhappy, because of what happened to Yoni (ph)," says Farouk (ph). "We are happy for our girl, but sad for the boy. For all of us to be happy, both of them should be alive."
From a Jewish teenager to a Palestinian girl, the gift of life, bringing to another's face a smile.
Mike Hanna, CNN, Jerusalem.
(END VIDEOTAPE) TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com.
