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Israeli Health Minister Writes To Matt Hancock To Stop Jewish Toddler From Being Disconnected From Ventilator

The Israeli health minister has written to his British counterpart to ask him not to disconnect a Jewish toddler from a ventilator and to transfer her to Israel instead.

Alte Pixler was born in the UK to ultra-Orthodox Jewish parents, who are Israeli citizens, and she suffered irreversible brain damage during birth.

Now two and a half years old, she has been hooked up to a ventilator at the Royal Children’s Hospital in Manchester ever since.

Israeli toddler Alte Pixler, who is hospitalized in Britain. (Newsflash)

As her prognosis is poor, the hospital petitioned the Supreme Court for permission to disconnect the youngster from the ventilator, which the court granted.

However, the case received an unexpected intervention when the Israeli health minister, Yuli Edelstein, appealed to the British government through his counterpart, Matt Hancock, to reverse the decision.

He wrote: “I was informed of the request of Mr Avraham Pixler and Mrs Chaya Pixler, parents of Alte Pixler, who was born with a rare brain impairment and has been hospitalised since her birth at the Royal Children’s Hospital in Manchester (RMCH).

Israeli health minister Yuli Edelstein who asked Britain not to disconnect the toddler Alte Pixler from the ventilator. (Newsflash)

“The hospital has petitioned the Supreme Court for permission to disconnect Alte from the device to which she is connected, which will result in her death.

“According to a legal opinion attached to the request on behalf of the family members, and in our opinion acceptable, according to Israeli law in circumstances where the parents oppose the cessation of medical treatment that could lead to the child’s death and that life expectancy exceeds six months – medical treatment must not cease.

“Alte’s parents are Orthodox Jews and Israeli citizens, living their lives according to Hebrew law, and they are interested in transferring Alta to one of the two hospitals in Israel that have expressed a willingness to treat her. I would appreciate if you could help the Pixler family bring Alte further treatment in Israel.”

Israeli health minister Yuli Edelstein who asked Britain not to disconnect the toddler Alte Pixler from the ventilator. (Newsflash)

The Supreme Court’s current position is that a transfer to hospital in Israel should be refused on the grounds that Alte’s suffering should not be prolonged.

Euthanasia is forbidden by Jewish law.

Alte’s parents will find out by tomorrow (8th June) if they are allowed to appeal the Supreme Court’s decision.

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