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| IDF soldiers prepare an aid shipment for Sri Lanka. (AP) |
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Barry Shaw made Aliyah from England in the 1970s, is manager of Netanya Real Estate, and founder of the Netanya Terror Victims Fund. He is the author of "The View from Here" series of commentaries from Israel.
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By Barry Shaw
January 3, 2005
Like the rest of the world the whole of Israel was in shock at the magnitude of the Asian Tsunami disaster.
But Israel was among the very first to prepare aid and take off for the Far East.
Israel has developed a proficient rapid-response team that has saved many lives and helped to restore health and well being in many parts of the world struck by earthquake, massive destruction caused by terror attacks, and natural disasters.
Created out of sheer necessity, Israeli specialists have become leading experts in all elements of emergency aid and rescue missions.
Many countries have given larger donations of aid than Israel, but there is a special poignancy to the Israeli contribution.
This humanitarian aid and assistance was offered and given generously and immediately.
It was offered spontaneously, despite the fact that recipients were among those who have consistently called for the eradication of the Jewish state, and have supported and applauded the campaign of suicide attacks against innocent Israelis.
The outburst of the previous Prime Minister of Indonesia accused the Jews and Israelis of all the evils of the world, a typically anti-Semitic rant.
Some may argue that Israel had no need to give help to those who wish to kill us. Better to give to those you love, rather than extend assistance to your enemy, is the argument.
This argument ignores the basic Jewish ethic of 'He who saves a single life, it is as if he saves the whole world.'
Israel made a decision to do what is morally right, not politically correct.
This was the right thing to do. It was the only thing to do. Jewish conscience demands nothing less.
The Sri Lankan Government initially rejected the Israeli offer of immediate humanitarian help, but later relented when faced with the astonishing size of their tragedy.
Israeli aid had already arrived in other countries. The Israel team and equipment had been sitting on the tarmac for more than twenty four hours before it was given the green light to head east to the stricken Sri Lanka.
In recent days, the Israeli team of DNA experts have been leading local operations in identifying bodies. Field hospitals have been set up and operated by Israeli medical teams. Other have been helped in the clear up operations. Thousands of tubes of the Israeli manufactured OderScreen gel have been freely distributed to aid workers. This gel modifies the pungent stench of death and eases the stress and trauma slightly for those having to work in areas strewn with corpses or body parts.
Jewish organizations and synagogues both in Israel and abroad are conducting major fund-raising campaigns to help the victims of the Asian Tsunami disaster.
It is done willingly, with no thought to the anti-Semitic and anti-Israeli record of the people or Government that will receive this aid.
It is yet another expression of the humanity of the Jewish people. It displays the true face of Israel and the Jews, despite recent malevolent efforts of people, even influential people, who would wish to demonize us.
Views expressed by the author do not
necessarily reflect those of israelinsider.
 
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