Reminds me of Lurker's comments on this article by Sever Ploker on Ynet:
[The Israeli emergency delegation is] headed to Haiti on two missions: Rescuing survivors and establishing a field hospital. Yet the first mission is almost impossible, as the time that has elapsed greatly diminishes the chances of finding survivors under the rubble.
As to the establishment of a field hospital, this is a worthy mission yet not a unique one. The Americans, French, Canadians, Argentineans, Brazilians, Brits, and human right groups have already started to establish mobile clinics and improvised hospitals. It's crowded, chaotic, and unsafe out there. Israel's marginal contribution to the global aid effort will be minor...
American television is known for the phenomenon of "disaster correspondent" -- a journalist sent to any location worldwide that is hit by a disaster. Yet it appears that the State of Israel is following this conditioned reflex too: Whenever there's a disaster somewhere around the globe, we're there, with the IDF's Home Front Command and our teams.
Yet this presence is not always vital, necessary, or beneficial...
Wouldn't it be more appropriate and just to provide [Gaza] with an Israeli field hospital? In Haiti, one of the local gangs may take apart the Israeli hospital and sell the equipment on the black market. In Gaza it will be safeguarded, used, and possibly bring down the level of hostility a little. [ROTFL – Lurker]
Israel does not bear much responsibility for Haiti, with the exception of the general responsibility every person bears for others. Yet it does bear indirect responsibility for Gaza...
It's hard to get rid of the feeling that the desire to "make an impression" played a key role in the Israeli government's decision to dispatch hundreds of aid workers to Haiti. The impression which Israel's assistance will make on the conscience of the world (it won't be impressed much,)...
Going to Israel?
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Wherever I am, my blog turns towards Eretz Yisrael טובה הארץ מאד מאד
2 comments:
The Haitian Ambassador to the US was a guest at our shul this Shabbat. In the course of his speech to our congregation, he thanked Israel for its "disproportionate" response.
Israel DID provide a field hospital for Gaza. Hamas ordered civilians to stay away. I love how critics of Israel, indoctrinated into a false narrative full of half-truths (and outright lies) can't reconcile what they see with what they believe. Israel stretches a charitable hand around the globe time and again, aiding those in need, providing her knowledge and equipment to anyone who asks BUT because the Palestinians claim to be persecuted, the fault must be Israel's. Of course. Sigh.
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