Israel's Tsunami Efforts Get Cool Response

[Rose Siding]

JERUSALEM -- Israel has offered its hard-won expertise in handling disaster to Sri Lanka and India in the wake of Asia's tsunami tragedy but it has met with a lukewarm response, Israeli officials said Friday.

Israel's army sent 82 tons of medical and humanitarian aid to Sri Lanka, and Israel's civilian rescue service, working with the Red Cross, dispatched a planeload of blood products. An additional 40 tons of supplies collected by private donors flew out Friday.

But an offer to deploy 150 seasoned military medics and support personnel to set up field hospitals was rejected, Israeli security officials said on condition of anonymity.

Israel's years of war with neighboring countries and bombing attacks by Palestinian suicide attackers have honed its rescue and recovery services and it has sent military medical teams to other countries hit by disaster, among them Turkey, Macedonia and Rwanda.

At the same time, however, Israel has come under harsh criticism in the international community for its tough response to the Palestinian uprising, and the sight of Israeli army uniforms might touch a raw nerve, particularly in countries with a large Muslim population.

http://www.newsday.com/news/nationworld/world/wire/sns-ap-tsunami-israel,0,2735820.story?coll=sns-ap-world-headlines

[yardwork]

1. Here's a newsflash to the U.S. and our allies

The world is mad at us right now and they would prefer that we stay out of sight.

[Tinoire]

3. Yeah but... Denial isn't only a river in Egypt.

Our shit smells like roses dontcha know.

[Deja Q]

95. Unless they see 'strings attached' that we don't. In which case I agree.

Human nature is one thing, but * and the neocons make it a mandate that if they help somebody, they want payment with interest. That isn't altruism. Nor is it Christian.

And, as I said in another post, what's happening in the lands corporate america exploits is just the beginning. A foreshadowing of how America will soon be punished by God for its own unChristian activities.

[theycanbiteme]

2. Nice to see our US tax dollars being put to good use.

Given that Israel receives over 3 BILLION of our US dollars PER YEAR.

[donheld]

20. The only reason Israel has anything to give

is what we gave to it. I'm sure Israel's "gifts" came with some heavy strings too.

[imenja]

104. American aid to Israel is military

[Tinoire]

4. Gee US and Israeli governments. Get a fucking clue.

You're both a disgrace to your people.

On edit: And it's high time the entire world made it indisputably clear. For our sake. The people's sake.

[KSAtheist]

32. You're saying...

That Indonesia/Sri Lanka/etc. should decline massive amounts of needed aid over politics?

So, what you're saying is that they should put their foriegn policy stances above the health and welfare of their people? That they should assume a petty moral stance while thousands of their people are dead and dying?

Please clarify.

[Tinoire]

36. I'm saying exactly what I said

That the US and Israel should get a fucking clue and that they're both a disgrace to their people.

If you don't understand why the US is a disgrace- keep reading LBN and GD.
If you want to know why Israel is a disgrace- head down to dark secluded dungeon of I/P.

I'll give you a clue. Pariah nations with militaries not known for liking Muslims.

If you can't figure out the rest, we will always have a "failure to communicate" and there would be no sense in spinning wheels- for that I'd rather go down to I/P where I at least know the posters.

It's a shame isn't it for decent Americans and decent Israeli's that people might not want their soldiers around? Ah the shame of being pariah nations with pariah militaries currently killing Muslims in other countries.

Anyway I recall, Israel sent quite a bit of non-military aid, doctors, food, equipment and that was accepted. It's just something about soldiers known for killing Muslims in their midst that might just rile a few people. You never know what might happen if some poor kid picks up a rock. Regrettable for the decent people whose only intention is to help? - You betcha. A slap in the face to the most moral army in the world? - You betcha.


Maybe little things like sending "intelligence experts" is a bit bothersome for our Muslim friends. I can't imagine why. Can you?

===

Clal Insurance sends team to Thailand

The Clal Insurance Company is sending a rescue team to Thailand, including medical personnel, engineers and intelligence experts. The team will assist Israeli families in locating missing relatives in the disaster area. The nine-member team will first go to Krabi, south of Phuket, following information received from company personnel, the Foreign Ministry and other assistance groups in the area. (Shlomy Golobinski)
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/pages/ShArtVty.jhtml?sw=tsunami&itemNo=521392

[Name removed]

66. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[sushi]

68. Maybe Sri Lanka

doesn't want spies coming in together with the food and other non-military aid!

[Name removed]

72. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[sushi]

79. People are different

I have read that the Sri Lanka government even refused to work together with the TT rebels in helping the tsunami victims, while the Indonesian government has put the GAM rebellion in Aceh on the backburner, and put the victims first.

Call the Sri Lanka government paranoid, but it did let in Israeli personnel, only less in number.

You can't be surprised that Israel is so unpopular in the world! You also know how it can be changed!

[Name removed]

81. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[jmc777]

90. I heard that Israeli spies...

....like to get their hands on passports belonging to people from other nations (ask the New Zealanders!) I'd imagine that there would be a few passports lying around here and there over in the areas hit by the tsunami. They probably want to get over there for some "easy pickings".

[Tinoire]

73. Ah now

it's the table-turning and word twisting. I'll refer you to post 53 where I was very clear.

Couldn't be the support personnel they might have been worried about could it? You betcha.

Maybe you should just write a letter of outrage to the Sri-Lankan government. After all, they are in the best position to explain their reasoning to you.

As far as this conversation goes, never mind Heimdallr. If you're that concerned about defending Israel's world image- there's a little forum called I/P where you can have at it all day. Spinning wheels isn't my style.

[Name removed]

78. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Oversea Visitor]

75. I am not a muslim

And yes I an anti Bush
Sadly you do not understand the level of hatred the people in Asia has for the military of Isreal and US.
Having them around will means exposing them to danger of being target for attack.
Think what you like but this is reality

[Name removed]

80. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Oversea Visitor]

83. Indeed

and who is to blame of all this hate generated.

[still_one]

89. really, is that why India does joint military exercises with them

is that why China buy technology from them

don't tell me how asia hates "Israel", I know China, and India, and they are both Asian

[still_one]

87. gee that's quite "christian" of you

I assume everything Israel does is wrong in your view

do you have any idea how many people have been killed by China? I don't see them rejecting their aid

do you know how many people who are Islamic have been killed by france, U.S. russia? I don't see them rejecting their aid

Palestian would have been a state years ago, if it wasn't for their "arab" brothers who kept telling them to destroy Israel

Now we have a president who wasted four years, wouldn't take over will Clinton left off and negotiate a peace

Believe what you want about Israel, but you paint it only for one side. Arafat with his BILLIONS which should have gone to the Palestinians also helped lead us to where we are today

[Roaming]

93. Excellent points

[Violet_Crumble]

98. Not really...

The points on the I/P conflict are merely talking points that are incorrect...

As for the stupid comment about Tinoire, that's about as excellent as my clumsy attempts at cooking. Yuck...

Violet...

[regnaD kciN]

100. Not to mention...

...the state of "Palestian." That would be somewhere along the Silk Road, wouldn't it?

:eyes:

[Tinoire]

94. You assume wrrong

And not that your post had much to do with my points but the "Why do they hate us?" chorus leaves me cold.

[Porcupine]

96. Food from the poisoner, healing from torturers, water...

from the destroyer of ancient wells. (edit:inflammatory comment removed)

The rest of the world knows the Isreali government for what it is. A force that destroys 2000 year old olive groves, bombs children, destroys wells in the desert and bulldozes over unarmed civilians.

If people are that desperate it is a shame to the rest of the world.

Poison: Depleted Uranium
Torture: Google- Amnesty International Israel
Destroyers of Wells: Google: Rachel Cory

[Zhade]

58. Who even said this story happened as described by Israeli officials?

Gee, should I take the rightwing Likud government at its word?

Pardon my laughter.

[Oversea Visitor]

69. You fail to understand

The reason why they do not want to have military personnel there form US and Isreal.
They might get kill.
There lots of hatred for the Bush administration worldwide.
And the US military is view as part of this administration.

Please note 50 doctors from Isreal are allow in to Sri Lanka their
aid was also accepted.
BUT military presence is not welcome at all.

[Tinoire]

74. Welcome to DU Oversea visitor

Very nice to welcome more thinking people here

:toast:

[Oversea Visitor]

76. Thanks for the welcome

:toast:

[NYC]

91. Foreign military presence

should be unwelcome anywhere.

[Oversea Visitor]

92. They normally are

But in this case Israel and USA are just not welcome.
Military presence from other countries do not face this problems.

[Violet_Crumble]

97. But the US military is in Aceh now...

If there's one place where there'd be sensitivity about letting foreign troops in, it'd be Aceh. But I haven't heard of Indonesia rejecting any offer of assistance so far. Also, I don't really understand why military from the US and Israel would not be welcome, while the Australian military would be. Australia's relationship with Indonesia hasn't exactly been full of warm fuzzies or anything...

a bit of an afterthought here, but am I the only person who'd much prefer to see military forces being used in this manner than attacking people like Iraqis and Palestinians?

Violet...

[Name removed]

5. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[TheKingfish]

6. Yawn

If you constantly play this card it will become a self-fulfilling proficy.


On Edit:
poster above played the Anti-semitism card

[oneighty]

7. "Jew of all nations."

Educate me. I am all eyes.

180

[theycanbiteme]

8. "Jew of all Nations"

Wow, first time that I have heard that one. Could you please
elaborate?
And as for the "anti-semitism", please stop using that concept given
that there are large amounts of "anti-Islamism" from both Israel and
the US...

[Zhade]

60. And since Palestinians are also Semitic in origin, doesn't play well.

NT!

[regnaD kciN]

102. True, but...

Since "anti-Semitism" has for so long meant only "anti-Judaism," it's pretty much ensconced in our mental categories by now.

So, what's the proper term for "anti-Semitism" directed against Muslims who happen to be ethnically Semitic? As far as I can tell, the current terms most in use are "patriotism" and "Americanism."

:grr:

[Metrix]

9. The local Clear Channel morning talk show

played up this angle earlier in the week, very critical of the Thai government. A statement has already been issued that the aid was welcome but that there were not accommodations for such a large number of people. I thought a smaller group did go.

Maybe some country is feeling a little resentful that other countries are getting more attention for being victims, perhaps?

[AtTheEndOfTheDay]

10. Maybe they have their reasons

but stupid is stupid. Here, I'll aim at my foot. Help is welcome when needed from anyone. The victims might appreciate what government is too dumb to accept.

[brindis_desala]

15. Americans, particularly Democrats

are among the most generous people in the world. Governments however rarely are. Of Govt. figures quoted, only a small amount actually makes it to those who need it. Most is lost in corruption in the donor and recipient countries. Administration costs eat up most of the balance and even so there are "strings" attached - the recipient country will be expected to buy goods from, and give political support to, the donor for eg. Need I say more...

Give to Oxfam and the Int. Red Cross

[Retired AF Dem]

19. You sure about that

don't the red states donate more money than the blue? :)

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

51. as long as it goes to brainwashing people with fundamentalist religion,

then yes that may be true

[Tom Yossarian Joad]

29. Wow. That's almost Verbatim what they were saying on Rush's show

this past Thursday.

We are such a great country we reelected a mass murderer for a second term in hopes he might do better.

[TahitiNut]

16. On the other hand ...

... groups of uniformed 'aid' personnel wearing emblems including the Star of David might not be seen as particularly benign in regions having 90% Muslim people. Sadly, secular religionists serve more to divide people than show them in service to faith and mankind.

[Oversea Visitor]

71. Its not the goverment

Its the people hatred for the US and Isreal military
It is very likely some will try to kill these military personnel
You do not understand the level of hatred the people has for the Bush administration.

[KSAtheist]

11. It's petty...

How some people and groups are using this disaster to advance their own viewpoints without focusing on the tragedy.

[yardwork]

12. That's the human condition

Millions of individuals will pour out their hearts and pocketbooks to help, but most governments will react in ways that improve their tactical advantage.

It should be a concern to the * administration and its allies that we are now so unpopular that the rest of the world is starting to reject our offers of aid. This is a warning bell.

This is like the canary going unconscious in the mine. It's an early-warning sign of big trouble to come.

[KSAtheist]

31. If they reject offers of aid...

If they reject aid just because they disagree with us--if they're willing to take food from their people's mouths, take shelter from their heads, and take medicine away from the sick because they disagree with us--then this says a lot more about them than it does us.

Sure, turning down aid may get you press and esteem from the muslim population of your country, but it's cold comfort to the people drinking contanimated water and dying from shock in a triage.

[demosincebirth]

13. Anyone know how much $ the oil rich Muslim countries

are donating to the disaster? Just curious.

[TheKingfish]

14. Not enough but what is your point?

Kuwait has donated $2 million in supplies while Qatar and Saudi Arabia each donated $10 million. The United Arab Emirates also donated $2 million.

http://english.aljazeera.net/NR/exeres/C69A8692-F633-4C83-8634-6A11969921F0.htm

[barb162]

17. Moslems helping other Moslems? n/t

[Violet_Crumble]

37. Here's a novel concept for ya, barb...

There's many folk who help with no regard for religion. Another novel concept to grasp is that nature is indiscriminate and among the victims were large numbers of Buddhists and Muslims...

Just curious, but is there some reason you believe that Muslims don't assist other Muslims? And is this strange belief confined only to Muslims, or are you an equal opportunity type and also believe that Christians don't assist other Christians, Jews don't assist other Jews, Buddhists don't assist other Buddhists, etc?

Violet...

[Tinoire]

43. Violet - you throw pearls

Where do you get so many of them?

:hi:

[Violet_Crumble]

44. Why thanks, Tinoire...

And welcome back to DU! I've missed you since you've been gone...

:)

Violet...

An afterthought - Seeing the article's about Sri Lanka, I'm wondering if Barb's under some strange misconception that Sri Lanka is one of those Moosleeem countries. Not that I think religion is at all relevant to what's happened and what should be focused on, but if Barb wants to look at a Muslim country devastated by the quake and tsunami, go no further than Aceh in Indonesia. Maybe if she looked at footage from there that makes what hit Thailand look like a gentle little wave, she'd start to grasp the enormous magnitude of what's happened...

Violet...

[Tinoire]

49. Shhhhhh... Let that be our secret, lol

If I recall correctly, it's under 10 percent in Sri Lanka. Your point about Thailand vs Indonesia is well made Violet though, oh, I dunno, for those so concerned about saving Muslims, I think there are other Muslim regions devastated by military tsunamis where the US and Israel could get a lot more mileage if they really want to prove how much they care.

A decade of ever-intensifying nightmares.

Glad to see you Vi! :hi:

[Tinoire]

42. Wow! Think u scored a point there or something with the anti-Muslim barb?

Think again. Re-read that about 10 times and then see if you can understand why that rummy je-ne-sais-quoi in your attitude wouldn't go over very well in those countries.

[sushi]

64. The first aid team to arrive

in Aceh, Indonesia, a mainly Muslim country, was from Malaysia, an Islamic country! There is a difference between a mainly Muslim country and an Islamic country. Indonesia recognizes all religions, but most Indonesians are Muslims. Malaysia is an Islamic country, but there are non-Muslims living there too.

[Oversea Visitor]

82. Thanks for being informed about Malaysia 40% are none Muslim

The concept of Christmas here is very different
All offices put up christmas trees and decoration
It ok to wish one and all merry christmas here
Religious tolerant is practise,anti religious statements are not welcome by the goverment.
In indonesia 10,000 troops was deployed on christmas day to protect the 22 million christian going to christmas prayer.

It is sad to see the effect of all this anti muslim rant affecting the safety of Christian in countries where they are not a majority.

And yes christian here dont like Bush too

[demosincebirth]

21. Don''t have a point, just asking.

Aljazeera? its just right up there with Fox, for truth and accuracy.

[TheKingfish]

22. Can you give me one example

Of an inaccurate Aljazeera article? Do you read the website? If not how do you know? Ahh Fox says it is ;) right?

[Boosterman]

35. Do you read Aljazeera?

I have. I find some of their stories to be incredibly biased. Much like some of our own news stories.

[oneold1-4u]

26. That's nice!

SA receives that amount just about every hour for their OIL!
Glad though that others can give and the reconstruction will be enormous and costly for several years. Rich people's resorts on the coasts should be the last things built!

[barb162]

18. Israel's "hard-won expertise in handling disaster"

if my friends, family and country were having this kind of a catastrophe going on, I would accept the help of Israel. A loaf of bread is a loaf of bread. I can't see slapping a hand down that is reaching out to help, especially if it means lives will be saved.

[Violet_Crumble]

39. Sri Lanka did accept assistance...

What they asked for was the number of personnel being sent to be scaled down, as they couldn't cope with large numbers of foreign personnel. Sri Lanka has accepted aid supplies from Israel, so not sure where you get the idea they haven't. Thailand's also made the same request to foreign countries to not send personnel. India, as far as I'm aware, is trying to do it on it's own and isn't accepting any outside help. So let me get this straight. Yr more interested in those countries accepting everything regardless of how much strain it puts on them than any sort of coordination where the countries affected say what aid they require and other countries send what's needed? Oh-kay...

Violet...

[Name removed]

23. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Annus Horribilis]

25. I Posted The Same Thing

But my message was deleted for some odd reason. I'll say it again...Israel has become the Jew of all nations.

[Violet_Crumble]

41. What on earth???

You also posted some nonsensical swill comment about rethinking supporting aid efforts for the tsunami? Hows about you and the one yr agreeing with get yr facts straight before making ridiculous comments like that? There was nothing anti-Semitic in Sri Lanka wanting the number of Israeli personnel cut back from 150 to 50. Sri Lanka can't cope with a massive influx of foreign personnel. Thailand has also asked foreign countries to lay off on the personnel. How fucking hard is this for some folk to understand??

Violet...

[Annus Horribilis]

52. No

Sri Lanka rejected Israeli help because they didn't want people with the Star of David around the Sri Lanka military.

[Violet_Crumble]

54. You are wrong...

Has it occured to you to read up on things before acting as though you know things for a fact?

Sri Lanka has NOT rejected Israeli assistance. Yr insistance that it's anti-Semitism is pure silliness and isn't backed up by fact...

Have a gander at this and feel free to retract yr comments...

The Sri Lankan president's military secretary sent a notice to his foreign and defense ministries yesterday expressing support for the arrival of a smaller 50-member Israeli delegation. "We are not opposed to a plane loaded with medical supplies, food and blankets that will be accompanied by a medical team comprised of 50 IDF people, as the Israeli Foreign Ministry requested in a letter," the military secretary said.

http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/520405.html

Violet...

[Annus Horribilis]

55. Also Reported

The sight of Israeli army uniforms might touch a raw nerve, particularly in countries with a large Muslim population.

http://www.mercurynews.com/mld/mercurynews/news/world/10539077.htm?1c

[Oversea Visitor]

85. The reality

is military personeel of Isreal and US will become target of attack.
I am sorry but the level of hate here is great.
Aids are welcome but they do not need the security problems that can arise by having US or Isrealist military personeel around.

[Zhade]

61. Feel free to distort the truth, but don't expect us to buy it.

Play your victim card as much as you want, it won't change the fact that you are buying into this Likud-manufactured lie.

Violet has more than demonstrated exactly how wrong you are. Nothing you can say will cause people to ignore reality - which is that Israeli aid WAS accepted.

[Annus Horribilis]

62. "Likud-manufactured lie"?

LOL...keep telling yourself that.

[sushi]

65. Unfortunately,

the fact that Sri Lanka "didn't want people with the Star of David around the Sri Lanka military," shows how unpopular Israel is in the world. If Israel wants to help by sending goods and personnel, and the receiving party rejects the personnel, then just send the goods! Period. Sri Lanka has also rejected to work together with its Tamil rebels, while Jakarta has agreed to work together with the GAM in Aceh.

Just read other posts, that Sri Lanka did accept personnel from Israel, but they just don't want too many people coming.

[Oversea Visitor]

86. Correction

The Tamil rebels refuse Sri Lanka personnel to go in and help
They only allow a cease fire after they realiase the scale of the disaster.

[sushi]

88. It's good to hear

that the Sri Lanka government and the rebels are cooperating, after initially refusing to.

[TheKingfish]

27. "jewish entitys"

I wonder how much AIPAC and JINSA are giving?

Please tell me who in the Democratic party has supported land for peace deals?

Are you suggesting that AIPAC gave money to Al Sharpton? LMAO

[AlienGirl]

47. American Jewish World Service

American Jewish World Service is an aid organization sending money and help to the tsunami-struck areas. Their efforts may help demonstrate to people in the affected regions that there is more to the Jewish people than just the Likud party and the Israeli military.

Tucker

[sushi]

67. Well-informed people know

that there is more to the Jewish people than just the Likud party and the Israeli military, but too many people in the world are ignorant.

[Sandpiper]

34. Yuppy goys?

Not a bigot, are we?

And don't try to pretend you intended it as something other than slur.

[Tinoire]

46. A real shame for Welsey Clark you're sporting his avatar

with that little speech.

meanwhile the u.s. democratic party accepts huge contributions from jewish entitys then backstabs them by preaching and supporting land for peace deals which is just another form of extortion of jewish /isrealis all so yuppy goys can get cheap gas for their gas gusseling cars

:wow:

Wow wow wow!

[Isere]

24. Isn't it interesting how,

even in the midst of cataclysmic disaster, some folks rise to the occasion and others just can't leave behind their low motivations, jumping at even this tragedy to promote division and hatred?

What a world.

[satori]

28. Absurd article

I was trekking in Nepal which happens to be a Muslim country, and while trekking I met a group of Israeli soldiers that were on vacation, and they seemed to be having a great time.

That article sounds like some of the articles the CIA would put out in the 60s that they had published in the major media to try and incite race wars.

[Name removed]

30. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Annus Horribilis]

33. "They love killing Muslims there too."

What a mature thing to say.

[TheKingfish]

38. Nepal is only 3.8% Muslim

And Hindu is the official religion of the State.

[satori]

40. Nepal is a Hindu nation

Well I guess Nepal is Hindu nation and not Muslim as I had thought. Bush and his groupies actually are firm supporters of Islamic religious extremism always had been always will be because it so similar to Republican Religious Christian fundamentalism and extremism.

I have not checked the stats on religions of the affected countries of Asia to see which has more of a population of Islamic citizens v. Hindu, Buddhist or Christian. My guess is Bush will use it as a opportunity to use the Red Cross a known CIA front group to recruit more Islamic religious fundamentalists like they way the Bush Republicans in the CIA recruited and trained the Taliban and Bin-Laden before 9/11.

The Indians especially those that from the Gandhi camp are very opposed to anti-Semitism and the people that live in the country of India are known to be very friendly to the Jews.

My guess is the Indian secret service has figured this out.

From my travels in the world of places like Kashmir India that does have large Muslim population, I experimented no anti-American or anti-Semitism.

And in the USA a frequent tactic of the CIA in the 60s was to have some of the CIA staff that were on the staff of some major US papers write blatant racists articles and cartoons for the sole purpose of inciting violence between the races.

This article is very similar to the language used by the CIA Psy/ops that wrote the race baiting articles in the 60s.

I traveled all around the world and I experienced not one anti-Semitic remark or hostility and I have a Jewish name, though my religion is Christian and not any anti-American hostility except for the British, they are very anti-American some were openly hostile toward me simply because I was a an American Citizen.

Religions

Nepal, constitutionally a Hindu kingdom with long-standing legal provisions prohibiting discrimination against other religions and proselytization, is the only official Hindu country in the world. The 2001 census identified 80.6% of the population as Hindu and Buddhism was practiced by about 11% of the population (although many people labeled Hindu or Buddhist often practice a syncretic blend of Hinduism, Buddhism and/or animist traditions). About 4.2% of the population is Muslim and 3.6% of the population follows the indigenous Kirant religion. Christianity is practiced by less than 0.5% of the population.

[malaise]

45. Buddhism

is the dominant religion in Sri Lanka.
Sri Lanka and India were members of the non-aligned movement. Neither will tolerate the presence of Israeli army peeps in their countries. They hd nothing to do with apartheid either. Good for them. Governments can't trust everyone pretending to be offering charity.
Pride and self-respect are important in times like these. Good for India and Sri Lanka.

[Danmel]

48. That is truly one of the stupidest things I've ever read.

Pretending to offer charity? Peeps? The Israeli govt is hoping to gain what exactly by offering humanitarian aid in Sri Lanka, a nation that is as important internationally as Luxembourg?


It is purely humanitarian aid- if you KNEW anything about Judaism, towhee than hatred of those who practice it, you'd know that charity or Tzedakah is one of the HIGHEST callings of the religion. That a key principles in Judaism is "Tikkun Olam", Healing of the World, acts that are considered paramount in the practice of the faith.

And yes, the Israelis are, for the most part , Jews. I guess taking money from a Jew is more offensive than death. But considering that the big stereotype of Jews is that Jews are cheap, they just can't win. IF they don't give, they;re cheap, if they do , they must be evil "peeps" pretending to care.

I guess you;d have felt right at home at Auschwitz and Dachau.

[Tinoire]

53. "Tikkun Olam"

True Tikkun Olam is being accepted. The important distinction here is that they don't want the IDF. Israel has already had plenty of non-IDF related people accepted and they're sending more.

[Violet_Crumble]

50. You got one thing right...

That was about buddhism being the dominant religion in Sri Lanka. The rest is miles off, though...

The group of 50 Israeli personnel that Sri Lanka accepted were composed of IDF and govt personnel, so there goes that theory of yrs...

India isn't accepting help from anyone as far as I can tell, as it's a pride thing of thinking they can do it on their own...

While I'm extremely critical of Israel's actions in the Occupied Territories, I'm also extremely critical of anyone trying to claim that the humanitarian aid from Israel (mind you, some of it is private contributions and charity organisations as well as the govts contributions) is *pretend*, because basically that claim should be found pretty damn offensive to anyone who notices that this claim of pretense is only directed at Israel....

Violet...

[satori]

56. Sri Lanka is a Buddhist country

Well if Sri Lanka is a Buddhist country… then how can the author of the article claim that Muslims will rise up and kick the Israelis Out for a charity effort?

I have a Asian Studies degree from college and Buddhism was one of my favorite subjects. In all my research and my personal experiences in Buddhist countries or peoples, I found the people to be friendly and not at all ant-Semitic and again I am half Jewish with Jewish last name though my religion is Christian.

In the USA Jews even become Buddhists and when I spoke to them they seemed quite happy being Buddhists.

[TheKingfish]

59. Yawn again

Whats it got to do with Anti-Semitism? Calling people who oppose Israeli occupation as Anti-Semitic is the same as calling those who oppose US occupation of Iraq Anti-American.

[satori]

63. Well the article says that Jews are not welcome and every other nation is?

Well Middle East issues I have no knowledge of. But Palestinian issues I guess are issues between the Jews and the Arafat militant Palestinians whom are prone to extremism.

And from my research into the military-industrial-complex here in the USA officially the Repugs have in history had a pro Israel policy (because the Repugs support militarism) but secretly throughout history the Repugs have supported Palestinian policies especially those that had Nazi connections.

And then when we see the TV news in the USA propagating a Middle East Issue it is really just a infomercial propagating the need to build up the militarism of the military industrial-complex. In short the more violence in the Middle East the more money the Repugs make.

India is primarily a Hindu nation but also the largest democracy in the world after it kicked out the British around the time of Gandhi a non-violent peace activist, and Sri Lanka is a Buddhist country. Most Buddhists I know seek to avoid conflict and the Buddhist religion and culture seem to support that from my research and experience.

In Vietnam mostly a Buddhist country the Vietnam people just wanted to avoid conflict they did not want any American help. If you would of asked the average Buddhist in Vietnam at the time of the war... what they wanted from the Americans they would say nothing we don't want their idea of a democracy all we want is for the Americans to leave our country. So it seems to me is that the ordinary people that live in India or Sri Lanka could care less if the Israelis want to help them because most of the people that live in those countries don't hate people from other religions or cultures as their own.

But the ones that would be bothered by it are the Western Media types in the USA that want to show infomercials that propagate the Jewish Muslim conflict rather then have Jews helping people. It is not good PR for the Repug infomercials to have the Jews helping other cultures or religions.

I guess what I'm trying to say in short is that 99% of the people that live in this world do not hate as much as the media leads the people to think. It is a small militant yet vocal Repug conservative group that link up with other militant violent extremist groups that hate and use the major media to promote hate and War. War what is it good for? Absolutely nothing.

[Tinoire]

77. As you so astutely pointed out in in post 40

This article is very similar to the language used by the CIA Psy/ops that wrote the race baiting articles in the 60s.

Consider the source of the article. Literally. Thanks for your thoughtful posts. They were a pleasure to read.

[Zhade]

57. Creating false sympathy? Fuck you, Mr. Sharon.

NT!

[riverwalker]

70. "Israel" and "humanitarian"

appear to be an oxymoron to most of the world.

[sushi]

84. Unfortunately, I agree

Israelis can change that!

[Name removed]

99. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Tinoire]

101. Vatican paper raps Sri Lanka on Israeli aid

Vatican paper raps Sri Lanka on Israeli aid

Vatican, Dec. 30, 2004 (CWNews.com)

Vatican, Dec. 28 (CWNews.com) - The Vatican newspaper has denounced a decision by Sri Lanka to reject emergency aid offered by the Israeli government. Sri Lanka declined the Israeli aid because it would have been furnished by a military team.

Calling for "a radical and dramatic change of perspective" among people "too often preoccupied with making war," L'Osservatore Romano chastised the government of the stricken Asian nation for putting unnecessary restrictions on an Israeli offer to furnish medical help.

The Vatican paper observed that in what "should be a time for unconditional solidarity," some world leaders seem incapable of escaping a "small-minded approach that restricts their horizons."


(snip)

http://www.cwnews.com/news/viewstory.cfm?recnum=34348

[durutti]

103. The bottom line is that aid is necessarily political.

Sadly, favors will be expected of the countries directly affected by the tsunami in exchange for any aid they receive at some future point. It should come as no surprise that offers of aid are therefore being considered with caution.