Subscribe to Print Edition | Thu., September 04, 2008 Elul 4, 5768 | | Israel Time: 02:21 (EST+7) web haaretz.com   Back to Homepage Haaretz Toolbar Diplomacy Defense Jewish World Opinion National Print Edition Car Rental Books Haaretz Magazine Business Real Estate Easy Start Travel Week's End Anglo File

Dear ambassador, please babysit my child abroad By Barak Ravid Tags: Thailand, Georgia, Israel "Why aren't you sending planes to evacuate Israeli tourists from Thailand? What are you waiting for?" asked a frantic caller to the Foreign Ministry's situation room Tuesday, following the Thai government's declaration of a state of emergency in the capital, Bangkok. Foreign Ministry officials were not alarmed by the hysterical calls about the safety of Israelis in Thailand. Only a day before, they had been flooded with callers asking the ministry to evacuate Israelis from New Orleans in light of the approaching Hurricane Gustav. Such incidents illustrate a subject that has been hotly debated in the Foreign Ministry's corridors and offices in recent months: To what extent is the state responsible for its citizens' safety abroad? Advertisement It is doubtful whether any other country's diplomats invest as much time and effort in tending to the problems of individual citizens overseas as Israeli diplomats do. For example, Israel chartered three planes to evacuate 500 Israelis from Georgia during the latter's war with Russia. None of the Israelis were asked to pay for the flight, and some were even reimbursed by their original carriers. In comparison, the United States chartered buses to evacuate its civilians from Georgia and charged every passenger tens of dollars for the service. The successful evacuation of Israelis from Georgia brought much praise to the Foreign Ministry, but also raised the issue of the limits of the state's responsibilities. In retrospect, Foreign Ministry officials said, the evacuation of Georgia was justified. Yet they recognize that a problem does exist. "We've turned into the babysitters of Israelis abroad," Israel's consul in Madrid recently said. Last week, a well-known member of Knesset called the ministry's situation room and asked for assistance in bringing back Israelis who were "stranded" in Lithuania. When ministry officials asked him to elaborate on their situation, he responded that they could not come back because their airline had gone bankrupt. "Sir, why don't they just buy tickets from another airline?" one official asked the MK. "And who will pay for them?" he replied, confounding the ministry staff, who did not know whether to laugh or cry. Another incident that demonstrates the chutzpah of the ordinary Israeli occurred a few months ago in Spain. The local Israeli embassy organized a helicopter to airlift an Israeli backpacker injured during a trek in a mountainous area. Moments after he arrived safely at the hospital, his mother called the consul and asked him to send the helicopter back to where her son was picked up, because he had forgotten his backpack. An Israeli envoy in Turkey recently received a phone call from an Israeli tourist who demanded that the state pay him $200 for medical treatment to remove a bone that got stuck in his throat during dinner. "What am I paying taxes for?" the man fumed after his request was rejected. In light of such absurdities, some senior Foreign Ministry officials are calling for the state to draft a formal policy concerning Israelis abroad and the state's responsibilities toward them. Bookmark to del.icio.us   Sarkozy in Syria Visit will put the onus on Damascus to cooperate further on Lebanon. Shalit talks frozen Hamas' senior leader in Gaza blames Israel for breakdown of negotiations.   1.   THE ANSWER TO THIS HEADLINE IS BIG DEAL;THAT`S WHAT THE DIVIDED 04:07  |  glenna 03/09/08   2.   the chosen people 07:32  |  Yahya 03/09/08   3.   `We`ve become babysitters for Israelis abroad,` diplomats fume 08:00  |  kel 03/09/08   4.   Set a limit 08:06  |  Rina 03/09/08   5.   Spoiled "precious" people 08:31  |  Aaron 03/09/08   6.   We do look after our people 09:19  |  x-ray 03/09/08   7.   I guess Israeli`s should STOP paying the fat checks for 09:38  |  Ben 03/09/08   8.   These people should go home (to the USA) 09:49  |  Chanalau, Tova 03/09/08   9.   Typical of the leftists and the Kibbutznicks 09:54  |  Binyamin Dissen 03/09/08   10.   For Free????? 10:06  |  Mark of Lewiston 03/09/08   11.   The chosen or the spoilt or the greedy 11:19  |  Steve the Pals. 03/09/08   12.   this article makes my day 12:40  |  ailuj 03/09/08   13.   Israel - the only babysitter 13:06  |  Ros 03/09/08   14.   Of course what this article doesn`t say 14:52  |  Chris Linthwaite 03/09/08   15.   in favor of formal policy concerning Israelis abroad 15:41  |  Ernst 03/09/08   16.   #14 Chris Linthwaite 15:50  |  S 03/09/08   17.   #9 jerusalemites 16:13  |  mike 03/09/08   18.   evacuations should be only when all other means are not possible 16:50  |  ad 03/09/08   19.   What good Embassies do 17:36  |  Victoria 03/09/08   20.   Senses of entitlement can be hilarious! 19:19  |  Lisa 03/09/08

Read & React Barak: Arab parts of Jerusalem could become Palestinian capital Responses: 50 Bradley Burston: Why the Jewish vote matters - a guide Responses: 21 Report: Palin told AIPAC she wants stronger Israel ties Responses: 77 Israel, Egypt won't let Blair's sister-in-law leave Gaza by land Responses: 235 Intelligence experts: Israeli embassies are new Hezbollah targets Responses: 41 More Headlines 23:29 Biden: Israel's decisions must be made in Jerusalem, not D.C. 01:37 Terror cells scope El Al crew in Toronto with attack in mind 00:58 Assad: Any attack on Iran would be a global 'disaster' 23:15 Barak: Arab parts of Jerusalem could become Palestinian capital 20:01 Hamas leader in Gaza says Shalit talks frozen, Israel to blame 20:14 UN peacekeeper killed by IDF bomb from Second Lebanon War 22:05 Wall of Second Temple-era Jerusalem found in Mt. Zion excavations 23:20 Mofaz slams proposed evacuation-compensation bill for settlers 11:42 'Palin told AIPAC she wants stronger Israel ties' 01:54 British gaffe opens door to OT triumph for Israel 21:37 Kibbutzim enjoy long-awaited comeback as defectors come home 18:08 Palestinian rights group accuses PA of judicial abuse 22:30 Mother suspected of drowning 4-year-old-son 'had depression for the past year' 19:50 Director of controversial film on Islam to speak in Jerusalem Previous Editions Select Day 03 sep 02 sep 01 sep 31 aug 29 aug 28 aug 27 aug 26 aug 25 aug 24 aug 22 aug 21 aug

Special Offers Advertisement Fattal Hotel Chain Perfectly located hotels on best resorts of Israel. JMG your online solution Jewish Singles Personal Ads Find the love of your life on JDate.com MBA in Israel in English APPLY NOW! Limited spaces available Israel's Premier Real Estate Website www. israel-property.com Hebrew Summer courses From $39.95 ISRAEL BONDS Build Israel Israel bonds - a multi-purpose way to celebrate Israel's 60th Eldan Rent a Car Israel's leading car rental company offers you a 20% discount on all online reservations Junkyard Junk a car - get free towing nationwide and a tax-deductible receipt

Home | TV | Print Edition | Diplomacy | Opinion | Arts & Leisure | Sports | Jewish World | Underground | Site rules |

Real Estate in Israel | Travel to Israel with Haaretz | Hotels Israel | Restaurants Israel | Tourist attractions Israel | Shops Israel

birthright Israel | Search engine marketing

Haaretz.com, the online edition of Haaretz Newspaper in Israel, offers real-time breaking news, opinions and analysis from Israel and the Middle East. Haaretz.com provides extensive and in-depth coverage of Israel, the Jewish World and the Middle East, including defense, diplomacy, the Arab-Israeli conflict, the peace process, Israeli politics, Jerusalem affairs, international relations, Iran, Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, the Palestinian Authority, the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, the Israeli business world and Jewish life in Israel and the Diaspora.

© Copyright  Haaretz. All rights reserved