Let it not be said that the IDF doesn’t know how to show proper appreciation to Palestinians when they come to Israel’s aid in an emergency. During the Carmel Fire, the PA offered Shimon Peres Palestinian firefighters to combat the blaze. The offer was accepted and they performed admirably by all accounts. This led to several ceremonies in Israel extending thanks to the firemen for their work.
Before one such event, the PA submitted to the IDF the names of ten individuals who would attend so they would be approved for entry into Israel. When they arrived at the border crossing seven were on the approved list. The other three were out of luck. So none went and the ceremony was abruptly cancelled.
In his original statement, the fire chief said more politely than what I’m about to say: we were kosher enough to allow all of us to enter Israel to fight the fire. But after it’s over it’s back to business as usual. Israeli Palestinian MK Ahmed Tibi summarized the incident succinctly:
A shame and disgrace, any other words are superfluous.
All a technical glitch explains the IDF. We needed their ID numbers and they weren’t provided. One wonders why the ceremonies for the men at the President’s residence and foreign ministry went off without a hitch, while this event, to be held in the Druze village of Isfiya, was spoiled by bureaucratic foot-dragging. The IDF coordinating body whose job it is to facilitate such cross border movement warned:
Not to make a big stink and blow the issue out of proportion…The delay in authorization originated in an error of coordination between the sides and because there was a tight deadline [for approval]…Coordination between Israeli and Palestinian security forces will continue as normal.
“As normal?” You mean the Israeli side will continue making a bollocks of things as long as Palestinians are to be the victims of their incompetence or worse.
Imagine if the Haitian government invited those Israeli doctors who served on the ostensible humanitarian mission after the earthquake and the local authorities prevented 7 of the 10 doctors from entering the country because Israel hadn’t provided them proper ID numbers. Or imagine, God forbid, a Palestinian natural disaster and Israeli personnel arriving at the border to help and being turned away for the sin of not providing proper paperwork. Does it make any sense? Does the Occupation make any sense? The whole thing is an utter mess. Instead of calling it the IDF Coordinating Authority they should rename it the IDF Balagan [“Mess”] Authority. That’s more appropriate considering the quality of service provided.
These are the same kind souls who prevent Gaza students from leaving Gaza to attend university in the West Bank or abroad, and the same who prohibit Gaza’s terminal cancer patients from entering Israel for treatment. You never know what they might bring into the country with them.
For every Haitian and Turkish disaster that Israel helps cope with, there is something like this to undo whatever good remains in the Israeli system. So sad…
At least, there’s virtually nobody who justifies this fashla.
Should say Haitian.
*rants once again about no editing options*
I really think Haiti was more about a PR bonanza than charitable works.
The tooting of the horn all over the media, the kid named “Israel”, the quick exit all demonstrate a clear agenda.
Nonsense Kalea,
There will be no convincing you to the contrary I am aware, but Israel has always helped other countries where possible – it even offered the Iranian Government assistance in dealing with the Bam earthquake of 2003. But that offer was not accepted. No agenda other than helping people in trouble. No motive other than humanity.
What about those “natural” disasters called the Lebanon and Gaza Wars? Was it helping those countries to blow them to Kingdom Come? Or how about the man-made disaster of the Gaza siege? Is it helping Gaza by lifting the blockade so the place can have a normal life? Or do foreign countries get treated differently than Palestinians because Israel doesn’t have a border w. them & thus doesn’t have to be at war with them? I think you mean that Israel is willing to help people in trouble who aren’t Palestinian. Isn’t that right?
Israel’s help was in the same category as that of many European countries: An unnecessary PR stunt.
There were enough doctors and supplies available in the more immediate vicinity, and these could’ve arrived in a timely fashion if properly funded. Without the need to be carried across half the planet.
Now, it actually makes sense for neighboring countries to provide help in case of a disaster – especially if the situation is time critical, as was the case with the recent forest fires. That’s why Turkey’s and the Palestinians’ aid made sense. It also makes sense for any country to send necessary equipment that is not available elsewhere, as Russia did to fight the fires.
But if all you have is personnel and equipment that is locally available, better fork over some money if you really want to help. That’s what Israel should have done in Haiti, that’s what – for example – Germany should have done with the Carmel fires (instead of sending helicopters which did not make any difference.)
If Israel wants to help the Iranian people, it can help by putting a rest to the propaganda. It is completely suffocating our ability to become independent and free.
Isn’t that what Israel wants, too?
“I really think Haiti was more about a PR bonanza than charitable works.
The tooting of the horn all over the media, the kid named “Israel”, the quick exit all demonstrate a clear agenda.”
Agreed. It was beyond transparent.
Them and the Scientologists.
“The IDF: We morally suck and we know it….but don’t point it out or you’ll get a cruise missile up your car’s tailpipe.”