Bashing Israel for saving Haitians

... answer My questions that I asked you in my #366, oh well, cest lavie .... "...Past wars are irrelevant..."(Ron) That's just laughable .... it's like saying that you can attack me and hurt me as many times as you like but if I defend myself and hurt you back then I am the criminal ... So Ron, that's the sort of thinking that led me to say that you are biased, OK?

As an introduction I'd like to say that not always I can subscribe to the way how Israels administration handles specific issues, however Israels work in Haiti was beyond any reproach! While the UN was yada-yadaing around the Israeli had a top-notch medical crew plus a fully equipped mobile hospital on location on the 3rd or 4th day after the catastrophe. I'd wish, I'd really wish Israel would be in charge of international rescue missions. Some sort of UN-mandate to organize international help properly. The Israeli came prepared, they came in time (and not a fortnight later), and they deserve the respect for their heroic deeds, along with all the other rescue teams. PS: I'm not bashing US army help neither. The work of the US is great .. it just always takes so long to get Goliath going :)

If the Arabs are so willing to accept the so-called 1967 borders, then why didn't they accept them in 1948? Why instead did they attack Israel in an attempt to destroy and annihilate her? Why should we believe that now all of a sudden those "borders" are acceptable? Since 1967 those "borders" were never more than armistice lines to begin with. They were never intended to be borders. To retreat behind them would be national suicide on Israel's part. And the Arabs certainly do not deserve to be rewarded for attacking Israel by being given a state. They continually reject concessions and then attack Israel in order to get what they want, which is nothing less than Israel's total destruction.

One cannot respond properly to your post within 1000 characters. But, in the eyes of you Israelis, everyone who criticizes Israel is biased. If being against the Israeli occupation of Palestinian territory, and the attempt to starve 1.5 million people, I am biased: So is the UN, and the entire international community. So let's drop that tired constant drumbeat. If you want to establish moral equivalency between Hamas and Israel to justify Israeli violations of international law, please do. But the world will still be biased. Hamas renounced suicide bombing in 2006. Khaled Meshal stated in 2009 Hamas would accept Palestinians state, based on 1967 borders, and willing to negotiate permanent peace with Israel. The fence, blockade and occupation are illegal, as you know. What Israel "is doing worse than above wars" is try starve a population to death. The blockade of Gaza is the worst violation of human rights taking place in the world today. Past wars are irrelevant.

"People who truly know this place as more than a moral cartoon, also know that there is no such thing as a clear conscience in the Holy Land. Either your conscience is conflicted, or it is no conscience at all." Brad, my boy, you have achieved a rare and lucid wisdom.

One cannot respond properly to your post within 1000 characters. But, in the eyes of you Israelis, everyone who criticizes Israel is biased. If being against the Israeli occupation of Palestinian territory, and the attempt to starve 1.5 million people, I am biased: So is the UN, and the entire international community. So let's drop that tired constant drumbeat. If you want to establish moral equivalency between Hamas and Israel to justify Israeli violations of international law, please do. But the world will still be biased. Hamas renounced suicide bombing in 2006. Khaled Meshal stated in 2009 Hamas would accept Palestinians state, based on 1967 borders, and willing to negotiate permanent peace with Israel. The fence, blockade and occupation are illegal, as you know. What Israel "is doing worse than above wars" is try starve a population to death. The blockade of Gaza is the worst violation of human rights taking place in the world today. Past wars are irrelevant.

Great leap of logic by Mr bruston equating the Israeli state's calculations with the genoristy or lack of it of Individual israelis! Mr Bruston deserves a citation in logic and philosophy for this profound discover.

There's a concern that unmonitored Israeli doctors may be stealing Haitian organs for transplants or biological weapons research.

It is amazing the things that people will ignore in the name of political correctness. You sited the things that people should be paying attention to, but today right is wrong and wrong is right, and people have a sickness that blinds them to the truth. Thank you Tim R for standing strong, and standing with Israel.

You and your ilk (including the biased politicised UN) ceaselessly criticise Israel no matter what they do in response to Hamas who have for the last decade or so: - Been sending waves of suicide bombers to murder Israeli civilians. - Been lobbing thousands of rockets and playing Russian Roulette with the lives of Israeli civilians ... - Been relentlessly promising that the only way they will stop their war is with Israel's destruction... - Came across the border, kidnapped Shalit and held him incommunicado for four years (or so) ... Hamas did most of that even before Israel instituted it's blockade. However, it is not only the right but indeed the duty of any self respecting country to defend it's citizens. Nevertheless, you and your UN criticised Israel for: - The fence - The blockade - For shooting back - For targeted assassinations of Hamas leaders - For raiding and detaining Hamas politicians - For "the occupation" even after there was no occupation - Did I forget anything else? Now tell me this Ron: what IS Israel allowed to do in order to defend it's citizens? You might also tell me this Ron:What IS Israel doing in it's war against the aggressive war criminals (Hamas) that is worse than the way that: - The allies fought their war against the war criminal axis powers in WW2? - The how the USA fought it's war against the Serbs in the Balkans in order to save Muslim lives ( by the way: look at the thanks the USA got for it in 2001) - Russia fought against the Chechens. - NATO is fighting in Afghanistan (around 1400 civilians killed by NATO in 2009 alone). Just tell us Ron: Why is what Israel doing in Gaza so much worse than what happened (is happening) in the above other wars?

Not much credibility here. "lives of israel civilians are irrelevant to people like you." Non-sequitur. Discussion was whether Gaza occupied by Israel, and legality of blockade. I expressed no opinion, simply quoted Protocol II, 4th Geneva Convention as it applies to our discussion. What people like me think is irrelevant. Blockade is illegal. "Gazans voted for Hamas." Non-sequitur. Civilians who may have voted for Hamas did not take direct part in hostilities. They are not combatants. What I worry about is not included in 4th Geneva Convention: therefore irrelevant. "What has UN doing to ease suffering of Israeli civilians?" Non-sequitur. UN finding concerned the blockade. "They have done nothing to stop attacks on Israel." "Make up, and influences in UN." Non-sequiturs. 4th Geneva Convention doesn't apply to either subject. Whether you like it or not, UN resolutions establish bases for international law. Israel can't choose UN resolutions it likes, 181 and 273, and ignore rest.

when i saw the Israeli team in haiti i was soo very proud knowing full well they would be the ones to care and attack with ferocity the damage that occured/How dare anyone sit or say anything against Israel-tiny little country the size of the city i live in!!very well done, very proud, absolutely honorable yet again-love to you all

It's interesting that this article and those like it are still floating around when the Israeli aid mission itself concluded after a pitiful two-weeks... once it was no longer a big story. When something is this blatantly motivated by PR considerations, you can't blame Israel's critics for 1. Pointing out those motivation 2. Reminding us that doing something positive for Haiti does not absolve Israel of its crimes with regard to the Palestinians. How about some aid for Gaza?

If I come to your house to murder your family, are you going to invite me in for coffee and cake first ??? Israel owes Gazans NOTHING, for they are a ruthless enemy (Google Tali Hatuel as one of many, many acts). What would you do after 8000 unprovoked rockets were fired upon innocent citizens ?? How about a kindergarden, for crying out loud ?? Why should Israel lift a finger toward such a population ?? You are correct, though, it is ironic, that your energies are directed toward bashing Israel. If you took half of your effort to denounce Hamas and work toward removing their pure evil from the Palestinian people they manipulate daily, I assure you you their lives would instantly improve. The man made earthquake was caused by HAMAS, NOT ISRAEL. Lets all work together to extinguish the scourge of Hamas, and at the same time the humanitarian landscape of Gaza will dramatically improve. Are you on board, Rachel ??

"Quibble all you wish about irrelevancies..."(Ron) Yes, we know that the lives of Southern Israel's civilians are irrelevant to people like you and that you only care about the lives of those who attack Israeli civilians but the rest of us and Israel don't share your callous disregard. "All persons who do not take a direct part or who have ceased to take part in hostilities, whether or not their liberty has been restricted, are entitled to respect for their person"(Ron) Are you saying that the majority of Gazans did NOT vote for Hamas, knowing full well that Hamas is committed to wage endless war against Israel? You know that they did Ron, old buddy. And since they did, a state of war exists between Israel and Gaza (at the behest of Hamas). Therefore Israel is as free to respond to the hostilities directed at it from Gaza as is any other nation which is under attack by aggressors. Now, if your innocents of Gaza don't like the consequences of war then it's up to them to depose their own war mongers (Hamas) so that the suffering may end in BOTH sides of the border. That's the outcome that most decent folk would prefer ... for the suffering to end on BOTH sides. Of course you and your ilk worry ONLY about the suffering of the Gazans ... the rest is just "quibbling" to you ... "A September 2009 United Nations fact-finding mission found that the blockade of Gaza "amounted to collective punishment..."(Ron) Whooppy doooooo ... which politicised corruptand biased arm of the UN found that? And what has the UN done to ease the suffering of Israeli civilians who have been subjected to waves of suicide bombers and rockets from Gaza for nearly a decade, even before the blockade was established in response to aggression from Gaza? What's that? They have done nothing to stop the attacks on Israeli civilians? No Goldstone? No threats to prosecute Hamas leaders at the ICJ? OK then, Israel should consider the UN to be as relevant as the Arabs considered it when UN resolution 181 was adopted. I say that if the Arabs can reject UN resolutions then so should Israel. Pity Israel doesn't agree with me because they actually heed the UN far more than they should although they cannot accept every demand that the politicized, biased UN makes on them. You do know Ron that when it comes to Israel, the Arabs in the UN general assembly can automatically master all the votes of the Muslim nations, the non aligned bloc and many other nations who are intimidated by Arab oil embargoes. So, Ron, do me a favour and don't bring the UN into it because that is just one giant corrupt and parasitic organisation. And I think that they have as much of a future as the slave traders of olden years. Their sins will eventually catch up to them when oil will no longer be a factor and humanity will remember it's conscience again (even if only briefly).

Quibble all you wish about irrelevancies, but the fact is that Israel is in violation of international law. Protocol II (1977)of the 4th Geneva Convention reads: 1, All persons who do not take a direct part or who have ceased to take part in hostilities, whether or not their liberty has been restricted, are entitled to respect for their person, honour and convictions and religious practices. They shall in all circumstances be treated humanely, without any adverse distinction. 2. Without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing, the following acts against the persons referred to in paragraph I., are and shall remain prohibited at any time and in any place whatsoever: (b) "collective punishments;" A September 2009 United Nations fact-finding mission found that the blockade of Gaza "amounted to collective punishment," was likely a war crime and a crime against humanity and recommended that the matter be referred to the International Criminal Court.

who is this natalie thing anyway? she thinks she can tell us what to do? gimme a break. we don't too much give a puke what you think and certainly do not apologize for defending israel and her people against the liars and murderers whose propaganda has obviously blinded so many. the palestinians plight is on the hands of the arab/muslim world. conversation over.

Do you not have one substantive comment to offer to any of the subjects under discussion?

Anybody who helps the people in Haiti should be congratulated. The use of this team from Israel demonstrates their capability. I just wish they could demonstrate this capability nearer home.

If you were addressing the Eric we know of. Expect no quarter when it comes to Israel their view points veers to A BIAS AGAINST Israel.So true,words that will that will resonant throughout our world of those that seek the knowledge. Take care...

A very good post that puts Ron on the bottom ladder.He merely cuts/pastes his so-called knowledge speculative,low standard of education which shows where he is coming from. An average student(if at all)with no skills bar posturing with what he garners from articles. No originality in his responses he regurgitates ad-nauseum. Failing this the usual name calling seems to satisfy the prejudices he suffers from

When I saw the Israeli team helping in Haiti, I fealt so happy and so greatful. I called the Israeli embassy and thanked Israel for helping poor people who needs help. Israel need to do more of this. Israel need to make sure that innocent people in Gaza get food and medical attention. It is the real teaching of Judaism. I also felt very greatfull when Jews helped innocent people in Saraijvo during the Civil war in Yougoslavia. Jews had done many good dead in History and as an Arab I felt very happy to see that. I remember helping a Jewish family in Lebanon during the Lebanese Civil war. They were our neighbors and we loved them dearly. Love is much more powerful then hate and we all should do more of this. Thank you Israel.

Thank you Josh, I am so glad that someone is saying it. Unfortunately there aren't many outside of Israel saying it, but Hashem said that it would happen this way. Too bad that there are so many willing to believe lies and the hatred being spewed at Israel, and they completely ignore all the injustices being perpetrated on them (Jews). Shame on the so called civilized world for not standing for righteousness and Israel!!!

Why dont you open your eyes? Oh, of course, you are so blind with hatred, that you do not see the truth. Read history, if you can see the words. Peaple like you and Natalie Durson are sick. The Jews accepted the UN vote to partician Palestine in 1947 But on the very first day of the recreation of the Biblical homeland for the Jews, Israel, with a population of 600000 was attacked by 5 mighty Arab armies, Egypt, Jprdan, Syria, lebanon, Iraq. Since then, the Arabs have been attacking Israel almost daily. 1948, 1956, 1967, 1973 (Yom Kippur war, the holiest day of the jewish calendar). Hizballa, Hamas, PLO. Israel is fighting a war against islamic terrorism and aggression. Their charter states that they will never recognise Israel, and will strive to destroy the Jewish State. You live in your ivory tower, and have no idea of how the Israelis have to live. go into a coffee bar, shopping mall, despartment store, etc. You have to pass security. Visit Israel, learn truth

For those who condemn Israel. Please read O JERUSALEM. written by 2 Christians. Read how the Jews in Jerusalem were starving and dying of thirst, because Jordan occupied Jerusalem illegally, and would not allow food or water to be brought thru by the Jews from Tel Aviv many dozens of Jews died tryig to get supplies to those Jerusalem Jews, as they were ambushed by the Jordanians.

Shocked at your deliberate omission thinking this was a one off help by Israel. You need to read more I think. Israel has this special UNIT precisely for this purpose.They have been carrying this process of rescue missions throughout the world for eons. And you cynically imply Israel lacks compassion? Why not ask why the rich Arab states why have never EVER helped when this tragedies occur in parts of the world. But of course anything to bash Israel is acceptable by you and ilk.

You are right they are myopic & hateful when ever Israel does something positive(in this instance)The have been on the front line everywhere.They even wanted to help Iran several months ago and they refused.But then it was expected. Israelis have performed more than 290 lifesaving operations and delivered 16 babies in the hospital?s maternity ward. Four Haitians have been rescued with the assistance of the IDF search-and-rescue team. Many nations worked together to save those affected by the earthquake, including Israel and the United States. Speaking about their experiences: Meanwhile, Israel continues to transport supplies to Palestinians in Gaza through its border crossings into the Gaza Strip. Today (Jan. 25), 68 truckloads of humanitarian aid passed through the goods crossings from Israel into Gaza. From Jan. 19, 2009 ? Jan. 16, 2010, 724,925 tons of humanitarian aid were delivered to Gaza. That represents a 900 percent increase in humanitarian aid delivered there compared to 2008. In addition, on Jan. 23, Israeli authorities authorized the transfer of $6.7 million (25 million shekels) to Gaza residents entitled to social security and pension payments from Israel due to having worked inside the country in previous years.

As with anything legal it can be argued both ways Att.#42 you mention states this and I quote: "Territory is considered occupied when it is actually placed under the authority of the hostile army. The occupation extends only to the territory where such authority has been established and can be exercised." There a valid legal basis that Israel doesn't control the land or exercise control over it(otherwise Shalit would not be a prisoner and 8-10 rockets could not have been fired at Israel). By your interpretation Egypt which also controls the border of Gaza would also be an occupying power. Yet you ignore Egypt and only focus on Israel. Regarding your other remarks of no morality etc., since your hollow indignation is solely reserved for Israel, it reveals your obvious bias and antisemitism.

"by quoting the only legal opinion I can find about the subject of Israeli occupation of Gaza.."(Ron) I have news for you Ron, you did NOT quote any legal opinion. All you did was referred to Hague IV,art.42 which talks about the responsibility of an occupying power towards an occupied population. Unfortunately for you though Ron, your reference to that article is entirely irrelevant because you failed to prove that Gaza is O-C-C-U-P-I-E-D. In fact, together (how is that for team work Ron?) we proved that Gaza is NOT occupied. I proved it by reminding you that Israel evacuated Gaza several years ago and by pointing out that even Hamas admits that Gaza is NOT occupied by claiming that THEY liberated Gaza. And Ron, even though polemicists like you don?t want to admit it, any sane rational person readily sees that if a land is L-I-B-E-R-A-T-E-D then it can NOT be 0-C-C-U-P-I-E-D. And you proved it by what you said about wars waged by the allies in WW2, the USA, Russia and NATO. You proved it because one cannot apply different rules to Israel than to anyone else unless of course one is in a kangaroo court or one is a lynching judge. So the rule that you used to exempt the above powers from being categorized as occupiers should apply to Israel too. You don?t have to like it Ron, but that?s the way it just is ?

omar,i guess you are an arab?? where was all the arab help them,the arab states are far richer than israel.you lot don.t even help your own.. so whos selective then eh!!!!???

Wow, I'm impressed. This is the first I've heard of Israel ever offering any kind of aid to others. I hope they realize it's the human thing to do and continue. Who knew the Israeli Government had compassion. I shocked and happy at the same time.

It is nice to see that no one is foooled by Israel's two-faced behaviour. Okay it is a must for Israel to help; but it is also a must that they stop destroying other peoples lives. Their good deeds to not necessarily wipe out their bad deeds. The good deeds must come from a good place, not public relations.

By quoting the only legal opinion I can find about the subject of Israeli occupation of Gaza, I am not repeating myself nor did I offer any personal opinion nor assert anything. I quoted the text of the opinion of the Hague Regulations (Hague IV art.42) which according to the UN is a reflection of customary international law. If you don't like that opinion, tough luck. Don't complain to me, I can't change it to suit the fantasies of you zionists. The rest of your posting is babble, has no bearing on the subject of the Israeli occupation of Gaza, sets no legal precedents, and is, therefore, irrelevant to this discussion.

Sorry about your college experience. I am sure we are all enthralled to read your account of the relative shortcomings of your college. Some of the better universities do any excellent job of instilling the intellect of deductive logic in its students. Hope your children had a better chance in life. Your inability to fix collective punishment in a relevant context indicates law school didn't help much either. This posting of yours we are addressing is a typical Jewish response to criticism of Israeli policies. Somewhere there must be a common chromosome that prevents Jews from addressing the substance of the criticism. Invariable they attack the recorder, the bearer of their bad tidings. This type of vacuous exchange of vitriol is tedious and a waste of time. You didn't contribute one word to the subject under discussion.

To Rachel Kohn: I get your irony,but Israel is not at war with Haiti. If the Palestinians hadn't been lobing bombs into Israel,we wouldn't have attacked in the first place. What most people don't see is that Israel is NOT the aggressor. They want to live peacefully and if the Palestinians didn't want to push them into the sea,this would not have happened. By the way Rachel, have you ever seen the way the Hamas,the Taliban,and Hezbollah treat their women and children?

On the Care2 site a guy wrote me and said that Israel used American funds to help Haiti. I asked him how much he sent. I also told him, it was nurses,drs. and medics, I didn't know about midwives. It doesn't matter, these people are hateful,myopic and will never change!

Mr Burston, you are wrong, i was in Brazil at the time and i only read and saw good things about Israel, so well done ,to all the people who went and helped in Haiti.

Israelis have performed more than 290 lifesaving operations and delivered 16 babies in the hospital?s maternity ward. Four Haitians have been rescued with the assistance of the IDF search-and-rescue team.[1] Many nations worked together to save those affected by the earthquake, including Israel and the United States. Speaking about their experiences. The Haitians particularly praise Israel/IDF more than the rest of the ones who have gone there to help. And that says more to some who think this was a one time help. The Israeli team do it in many places where help is needed. They do not differentiate one from another(To Omar) Meanwhile, Israel continues to transport supplies to Palestinians in Gaza through its border crossings into the Gaza Strip. Today (Jan. 25), 68 truckloads of humanitarian aid passed through the goods crossings from Israel into Gaza. From Jan. 19, 2009 ? Jan. 16, 2010, 724,925 tons of humanitarian aid were delivered to Gaza. That represents a 900 percent increase in humanitarian aid delivered there compared to 2008.[5] In addition, on Jan. 23, Israeli authorities authorized the transfer of $6.7 million (25 million shekels) to Gaza residents entitled to social security and pension payments from Israel due to having worked inside the country in previous years.[6]

may not be that he simply wants to spread his propaganda but rather that he came out of college without critical thinking skills. In college liberal arts courses, I read a lot of facts and opinions, and if I did a really good job of spitting them back in a blue book, I got an A. I got lots of A's, but I don't think I ever was asked to analyze whether something was true or whether something made sense. I'm a lawyer, now, and asking questions like that is my stock in trade. I marvel at how little it was a part of my college experience. I wonder if Ron is simply functioning in a college mode in which you can adopt any silly-assed opinion you want because you read it somewhere, you can quote it, and you don't feel obliged to analyze it critically.

Israel is to be applauded for its assistance in Haiti. BUT...Would Israel allow Hamas to join the effort? If not, then I'd like to see what Mr. Bradley says about that.

Wanna take a ride? Ye gads, your one ignorant (*^&%$

Poor Gazan's dumber than two bricks drying in the sun. Main reason there will never be peace. One lives to murder ( Pals ) The other lives to save lives. (Israel)

That's nice.

I have seen many Jew hating people decide to love Jews because of prayers to bless them.Never from arguing no matter how intelligent and logical and simple and beautiful the argument.

French search and rescue team in Haiti worked to free a teenage Haitian girl who had been trapped for 15 days following the earthquake in Haiti. (ABC News Australia 28.1.10) The Greek rescue team dug a tunnel to enable a Haitian man who had been trapped for 11 days beneath a hotel damaged by the earthquake in Haiti. (The Independent 25 January 2010)

I know Ethiopean Indian Yemenite Iraqi Iranian and Morrocan Jews in Israel they all love the country.

The fact that Israelis were responsible for rescuing the last person found buried was more beneficial to Israel's image than anything it has done recently. Unfortunately, a person may have the tiniest suspicion, less than 1% of 1% of 1% that the rescue was just one more of an endless line of publicity stunts staged in tel-aviv. I'm quite hopeful it wasn't...

"(Hague IV,art.42). Under the terms of the Hague Regulations, Israel is still an occupying power"(Ron) You just keep on repeating yourself thinking that your repetition would prove your assertions. But the fact is that Israel no longer occupies Gaza, even Hamas admits it when they crow that THEY liberated Gaza ... "as it continues to exercise effective control: Israel controls the borders and access into and out of Gaza, including the sea and air space; Israel has also reserved (and has exercised) the right to intervene militarily in Gaza"(Ron) You must be kidding Ron, huh? You try to assert that the above constitutes occupation? Yet when I said to you: - The allies didn`t re-supply the starving German and Japanese people - The Russians didn`t re-supply the Chechens, they leveled Grozny to the ground.. - The USA systematically destroyed Yugoslavia`s infrastructure in order to save the Muslims of Bosnia from the Serbs ... - NATO certainly does NOT re-supply the Taliban with the goodies that you list ... What was your response, Ron? You said: "None of those you note were occupied territories"(Ron) Does that sound consistent to you? Are you saying that: - The allies towards the end of WW2 - The Russians in Chechnya - The USA in Yugoslavia - Nato in Afghanistan did/do NOT control the borders and access into and out of the respective lands, including the sea and air space; and have NOT also reserved (and has exercised) the right to intervene militarily in those lands? You are just a polemicist spreading your propaganda, Ron ...

Presumably the subject is still the Israeli blockade of Gaza in violation of article 33 of the 4th Geneva Convention. What Hamas did almost a year ago, taking supplies from the UN and distributing them themselves, is completely irrelevant to this subject and has no bearing on any aspect of the international law applicable to the blockade. Rifah, the crossing point from Gaza to Egypt, has walls 8 meters high, a 3 kilometer buffer zone and Egypt is bound by treaty with Israel to keep the border closed. Egypt can only open the border upon Israeli agreement. In 2008, Israel kept the border closed 85% of the time. Obviously, in any case, Egypt has no infrastructure available to provide significant support to a population of 1.5 million people, even if international aid were funneled thru Egypt rather than Israel.

You quote, as you say, what the drafters of article 33 had in mind when they drafted the article. You did not quote the article, in which Israel is in violation, presumably because you don't like what it says. It is typical of your ilk to attack the presenter of criticism of Israel, in this case, "ignorance," "cynical," "polemical bad faith," particularly when you are trying to distort the facts, lie about them or ignorant of the subject. Your description of collective punishment as it might apply to Gaza is that of someone badly informed or a complete ignoramus. The definition of collective punishment is as it is written in article 33. According to that definition, the UN 47 nation Human Rights Council declared the Israeli blockade violates the rules of war. UNSC resolution 1860 calls for 'unimpeded provision and distribution throughout Gaza of assistance including food, fuel, and medical treatment...and ensure sustained and regular flow of goods and people thru Gaza crossings."

Ron's idea of what "collective punishment" is a war crime either arises from ignorance or is cynically manipulative. Check Wikopedia. "By collective punishment, the drafters of the Geneva Conventions had in mind the reprisal killings of World Wars I and World War II. In the First World War, Germans executed Belgian villagers in mass retribution for resistance activity. In World War II, Nazis carried out a form of collective punishment to suppress resistance. Entire villages or towns or districts were held responsible for any resistance activity that took place there." Collective punishment means you are talking about hands on control of a district and mass killings within a district. Ron is blowing up a district so that it's all of Gaza and is blowing up the embargo as if it was intentional murder of a village. This is just polemical bad faith on Ron's part, assuming he knows what he's doing. Ron, was blockade of Nazi Europe in WII "collective punishment"?

The legalities of the blockade aside, the vivid portrait of Israel and its apologists being burned into the minds of the international community, is the lack of conscience, no sense of morality, no human decency, no compassion, no concern about Israel depriving an entire population of human dignity and economic well being. The only legal reference to the question of occupation of Gaza is the Hague Regulations (Hague IV,art.42). Under the terms of the Hague Regulations, Israel is still an occupying power as it continues to exercise effective control: Israel controls the borders and access into and out of Gaza, including the sea and air space; Israel has also reserved (and has exercised) the right to intervene militarily in Gaza and continued to control of Gaza?s infrastructure (water and electricity, fuel, imports/exports, radio and TV frequencies, etc.) Israel is thus bound by the responsibilities of an occupying power. Even if Gaza is run by Adolph Hitler, art. 33 remains in effec

I didn't comment on what the majority of Gazans are like. Good people or not, they require food and water. I didn't gush about Gazan needs. I reported on what they are deprived of by Israel. They are under no constraints to have an adequate diet, clean water and human dignity. There has never been an aid truck from Israel to Gaza fired upon. That's not the issue. The blockade is the issue. It is a violation of article 33 of the 4th Geneva Convention: and therefore a war crime.

The legalities of the blockade aside, the vivid portrait of Israel and its apologists being burned into the minds of the international community, is the lack of conscience, no sense of morality, no human decency, no compassion, no concern about Israel depriving an entire population of human dignity and economic well being. The only legal reference to the question of occupation of Gaza is the Hague Regulations (Hague IV,art.42). Under the terms of the Hague Regulations, Israel is still an occupying power as it continues to exercise effective control: Israel controls the borders and access into and out of Gaza, including the sea and air space; Israel has also reserved (and has exercised) the right to intervene militarily in Gaza and continued to control of Gaza?s infrastructure (water and electricity, fuel, imports/exports, radio and TV frequencies, etc.) Israel is thus bound by the responsibilities of an occupying power. Even if Gaza is run by Adolph Hitler, art. 33 remains in effect.

How so? Hamas steals aid!! UN accuses Hamas of stealing aid in Gaza - Times Online4 Feb 2009 ... The United Nations today accused Hamas of stealing food and blankets destined for Gaza's destitute population, thousands of whom lost their ... www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/middle_east/article5661823.ece UN halts aid into Gaza after 'Hamas steals' thousands of tonnes of ...6 Feb 2009 ... Agency stops all aid shipments after second delivery 'intercepted' by Islamist government. www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009/feb/06/gaza-un-aid-hamas - Cached - Similar

"I'd like to say a word of honor and thanks for the Israelis, paramedics, physicians, nurses, midwives, and medical imaging technicians, who went to Haiti to save lives." Many showed up in Haiti a sea of humanity of different color, races and God knows who else to an offering of love to one of us the Haiti Humans who suffered pain. Haiti brought the world together, the white, yellow, black etc to help. THIS CAN ONLY MEAN ONE THING THAT WE CARE. The bottom line is we belong to each other and need to understand each other and to love one another the true love that belongs to the truth. Let no one lie to you that if there was an earthquake in Gaza the world would not respond the same way as they have done in Haiti probably Israel would supply the airport for landing, we have feelings that go beyond who we are. Jesus Christ in the like of us asked how would you love God if you do not love your neighbor, in other words we have to love our notorious neighbor first , notorious because most neighbors are, from our closest beloved to the furthest can at times be naughty. Any way what Israel did as well as others who showed up in Haiti is what they would wish others to do to them if it was their turn. The almighty God who sees in private is the right Judge not man as most men talks through their limited knowledge as is often the case. The right world let us use such love as our overall weapon to the negative and the other side of us.

The blogger even mentions in paragraph 1 that "the Arab press is full of adulation." What's amazing is how little tasteless snarking there has been. It IS the internet, after all. Well, let Burston snark then.

"None of those you note were occupied territories.."(Ron) Wiggle all you want Ron, but neither is Gaza. If it would be, then how do you explain the following utterance by the leader of Hamas in Gaza: ""This movement liberated the Gaza Strip with the help of the militant factions," said Haniyeh" http://www.turkishweekly.net/news/93857/haniyeh-gaza-just-a-step-toward-the-liberation-of-all-palestine.html Israel moved out of Gaza, it dismantled all the settlements in Gaza, Hamas is crowing that THEY LIBERATED Gaza .... but you are saying that Gaza is occupied. You are beginning to amuse me Ron, Gaza is liberated but they are still occupied ... it just doesn't add up to any sane rational person. It only adds up for those who have an axe to grind in favour of one side against the other and who don't let the facts stand in the way of what they consider to be a good story. Recognize yourself Ron?

000000000000000000000. Why I'm not surprised:))) big mouth and no action!

Haiti disaster was a earthquake disaster, while the Palestinians are doing it all to them self's,in the end is simple accept Israel, stop the bombings, suicide idiots, let go the soldier Shalit they kidnapped illegally, make peace as it is and than Israel will go further, it's proven when Jordan and Egypt did, must recognize Israel as the sovereign country and than thinks will flow, with out recognition nothing for nothing.

Cant stand any good news from Israel can you? Get used to it putting down Israel is not going to make your friends catch up.

I don't know where you have been, obviously not a library, but Gaza is being controlled by an outsider: Israel. Israel controls air and sea space, and every point of entry and egress in Gaza. Israel is not being criticized by the international community for not assisting Gaza. Israel is in violation of international law for placing a near genocidal blockade on Gaza. There is plenty of international aid committed to enable Gaza to be put back on its feet and at least provide its population with a basic diet. Israel will not let that aid enter Gaza. As you just read, the blockade is Israeli collective punishment of a civilian population: a violation of article 33 of the 4th Geneva Convention , and therefore a war crime. I am sure you know the difference between assisting Gaza and trying to starve the population to death.

Israel has to teach us something?? Israel has to teach the world something? Are you out of your mind? Where were they during the other recent catastrophies? Where were they in So.East Asia...even in the recent Tsumai... I guess the world is waiting for Israel to 'TEACH US ABOUT PEACE'too, how long do you think It'll take? TATA

Or if you are a Black African Jew (Falash Mura) trying to migrate to Israel, you may have a different perspective. Haaretz 13.12.2007 "Interior Ministry to close down Ethiopian Aliyah Operations." Ethiopian Review 12 August 2008 "Israel's Open Door to Ethiopian Jews Closing" http://www.ethiopianreview.com/content/3161 Rather odd, Israel is endeavoring to adopt Black Haitian Christian children, don't you agree?

I don't think he has it wrong, maybe you just haven't seen some of the bull that has come around because of Israel helping Haiti (to be fair, some of the statements by Israeli Jews on the article of Gazians helping were also out of pure ignorance. Now, for your question. I assume you mean "two faced" in regards to Arabs/Palestinians not getting aid from Israel but Haitians do. Israel, for better or for worse, is in a long going struggle with Arabs/Palestinians and not with Haitians. That pretty much sums it up. Is it right, no. Is it understandable, yes.

Try as you might to establish moral equivalencies, there are none. None of those you note were occupied territories. Wiggle all you want, but you Jews cannot escape the fact that the Israeli blockade of Gaza is a violation of international law. Collective punishment of a civilian population is a violation of article 33 of the 4th Geneva Convention. Breaches of the Convention are war crimes. Israel is conducting the most serious violation of human rights taking place in the world today.

I thank God for Israel. I see a lot of racism in your talk backs. There is no comparison batween Gaza and Haiti. Is it because Haitians are black that you insist on the comparisons. 1000 Arabs most of whom where attacking Israel and the rest part of collateral damage cannot be compared to 200,000 innocent Haitians having a natural disaster. As a black man few people, I say thank you Israel, you are trully God's people with God's compassion.

...and those of you who go overboard with unfair criticism will be treated as dogs howling at the moon ... Fair and constructive criticisms, many Israelis will listen to and at least consider. Not only that, as in all true democracies, many Israelis are their own worst critics ...

"Israel forbids entry of building materials, medicine, electrical appliances,spare parts for cars and machines, fabrics,threads, needles, candles, matches, mattresses, sheets .... blah blah blah"(Ron) If it would be up to people like you Ron, then the Gazans (under Hamas's tutelage) would freely export suicide bombers, rockets, threats and promises to wipe Israel off the face of the map ... In exchange for which Israel would be obligated to permit the entry of your list of goodies above .... I'll tell you what though Ron: That's not how other countries fight THEIR wars against aggressors who want to bleed them to death. - The allies didn't re-supply the starving German and Japanese people .. - The Russians didn't re-supply the Chechens, they levelled Grozny to the ground.. - The USA systematically destroyed Yugoslavia's infrastructure in order to save the Muslims of Bosnia from the Serbs ... - NATO certainly does NOT re-supply the Taliban with the goodies that you list ...

But then again, with your bias and prejudice, I don't expect you to recognize what is really going on. It is the Arab side that consistantly fires the first shot thereby perpetuating war. It is the Arab side that consistantly turns down offers for their own state. Twice, once under Arafat and once under Abbas, did they turn down an offer of 95-98 percent of the West Bank, offset by land within the green line.

Since the subject of this article is the zionist shameful lies about its crimes against the Palestinians in Gaza open air prison and in the West Bank bantustans, the request of the plaintiff should be taken to another more appropriate court. We do not expect you to justify yourself, we know you are guilty.... we expect you to stop your criminal acts, confess your guilt, refund the damages caused and withdraw from the land you occupy illegally. Is that understood?

'Bashing Israel for saving Haitians ' I haven't seen many doing this. I, for one, have not. Personally, I think you're setting up a straw man. This creates a situation where you can feel self-righteous and aggrieved. Too bad the enemy in this case consists of about four people and a dog. You could find more who think 9/11 was carried out by the KKK.

E: "Where Under International Law, Conventions or any other obligatory modality does Israel have to assist Gaza in any manner?" An analogy might help, Eli: 1) You are the Warden of Glasgow Prison. 2) Your prisoners are an unruly bunch. 3) So you order your prison guards to lock down the cell blocks and stop patrolling the prison grounds. 4) Furthermore, you order all your guards up into the watchtowers, and you tell them to shoot anyone who approaches the fence. Now, under what law, conventions or any other obligatory modality have you ceased to be a prison warden? How, exactly, did those actions manage to legally change this place into the "Glasgow Hilton Hotel"? How, precisely, have you properly discharged your responsibilities towards the prisoners by besieging them? Anwser: you are still a prison warden, this is still a prison, your actions are quite illegal, and you are deluding yourself if you claim otherwise.

MfG: "An occupier is one that has effective control over the territory." That part it true. MfG: "Israel does not hold that power in Gaza." That part is false. MfG: "If the area(s) is under Palestinian control...which it is..." Let me stop you there and ask a simple question: What extra authority did the Palestinians possess *after* disengagement that it didn't already posses *before* disengagement? Because Israel handed over absolutely no authority to the PA upon disengagement i.e. all the IDF did was lock the gates and then remove themselves to the watchtowers. But they took "authority" with them, because they insist - even now - that they have a right to come out of those watchtowers whenever they want, and for whatever reason they care to name. That's "effective control", Mark, and that means Israel is still the "occupying power".

it's cool that israel did that; it needs to do much more along those lines. the proffered service was NOT stolen... it was BARRED from the gazans by hamas. that hurts the image of hamas; NOT israel. same with the material aid, meo... and with allowing goods into gaza. there's absolutely NO excuse for some items on that list. but again, when you're punishing everyone; YOU are the culprit... so tell me, if all goods(except weapons), were allowed to flow into gaza freely; how would it "really" affect israel's security? and if hamas commandeers cement for fortifications? who's the culprit? if it commandeers food, oil, et al...who's the culprit? if it commandeers toilet paper, diapers, feminie napkins, notebooks, spices, baby formula, etc...etc...etc... WHO IS THE CULPRIT? even now, hamas does NOT enjoy widespread popularity among palestinians; how do you think it would fare THEN? meanwhile it's getting rich off gaza's tunnel systems and the black market...while maintaining "some" degree of popularity because of its claims to be helping to circumvent, and stand against, "the culprit". but if israel was to lift its siege? hamas itself would inevitably BECOME "the culprit". it can't help itself from doing so. then it becomes exposed and vulnerable. there's 1.5 million people in gaza, and 20-25,000 members of hamas; but they're ALL treated as if they were. both the israeli siege, and operation cast lead, reflect that same view. and read these talkbacks, meo...there's absolutely NO distinction made. ALL 1.5 million are considered to be "hamas". israel could have reduced hamas to the point of political irrevelence a long time ago...but instead, it insists on maintaining its role as "the culprit".

Talking about Israel's mistreatment of the Palestinians, in an attempt to prevent them from attaining statehood on their land, is not "bashing" anything. Writing ridiculous articles like this is. If talk of Israel's policies appears negative to you, then demand better ones!

"Israelis are inherently good people" Sure. Just like most people. It's the politicians and other radicals who created this situation. But if you're silent in the face of their crimes, you are part of the problem. You can'r say you didn't know ... "who are just trying to save themselves from consTant terror" No. The Israeli government, in the hands of Zionism's extremists, are deliberately perpetuating this war - and the threat to you and yours - in order to prevent a Palestinian state. Their belligerence, rooted in a rejection of Palestinian rights, is the key problem. "who are on the news daily, bombing countries all over the world" The US. Britain. Israel ... "You don`t see Israelis doing that" Not if your head's planted in the sand. Everyone else can see it all too clearly. Don't want to be criticized and ostracized? Change your behaviour.

Haaretz 6.10.2008 "Foreign Ministry, PR rebrand Israel as land of achievements." Israeli Foreign ministry hires British PR firm, Acanchi to rebrand Israel. The rebranding idea was first proposed by the Israeli consulate in New York following the September 11, 2001 terror attacks. http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1026633.html Israelis really do need to pay attention! Your individual good intentions (aid to Haiti) has been turned into Zionist hasbara. Who read Maariv: "Painful Truth: Haiti's Disaster, Good For the Jews." Reference: Tikun Olam: Make the world a better place. hhttp//www.richardsilverstein.com/tikun_olam/2010/01/24/maariv-haitis-disaster-good-for

There was an earthquake in Haiti. People are hurt and dying. Over 200 Israelis are there saving lives, not including those sent independently by Magan David Adom and ZAKA. There relief workers themselves are at risk. Or maybe you would prefer to see the Haitians die? I realize watching Jewish doctors, nurses and medics saving the lives of black people would upset your facist sensibilities. How about letting the Haitians decide? By the way, the only film crews I have seen filming the Israeli relief effort have been American and British.

When did the Arabs offer 72% of the land -- or any part of anything? Did you just make that number up? Your statement is wrong and ridiculous.

"For those who argue that Israel is sending this aid to Haiti for its own selfish reasons, there are two answers. First the realpolitik answer: All nations have interests; and all act, at least in part, out of self interest. When the United States is asked by Americans to justify its multibillion dollar foreign aid grants, it generally responds by arguing that these grants are serving the interests of the US. When it comes to Israel, however, a double standard is always applied. Israel must act only out of altruistic motives, while all other countries are entitled to leven altruism with self interest. The second answer is that Israel is doing far more in Haiti than would be required to satisfy its self interests. It is sending more aid per capita than any country in the world. It is doing it with extraordinary efficiency and real impact. Isn't it at least possible that the millennia-long Jewish tradition of tzadakah is at least part of the explanation?" Alan Dershowitz

during Cast Lead we were surprised to find the vials and packages re - done as grenades... all the while Hamas blamed Israel for lack of medication. I wonder if Hamas has similar medication for Haiti... The real PR stunt of Hamas is their cries for help. But then it's not really Hamas' fault. They merely reflect Arab street. See, everyone has hospitals, nazi Germany had some of the best of its time. It's complicated. We know where you sympathies are. But your entries, particularly on the murder of Jewish cab driver, make your notes on hospitals both, insincere and cynical. You are Anti - Semite. It's disease no hospital can help. And ohh... there will be hospital in Gaza, no worries. The question, should something happen will Jewish doctor be alive if he tries to come and help. Today he is very likely to end up like Danny Pearl.

Medical teams from Qatar and the Emirates have helped in Haiti too.

if you say that you are a dead center,but if you say that to alleviate your conscience so be it.Yes eric you are a dead center. As for your different type of assistance,read this http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1144667.html Still convinced that Hamas cannot steal it? What will be different now eric.

No one wants the type of help Israel is providing Gaza. The blockade is collective punishment of a civilian population: a violation of article 33 of the 4th Geneva Convention. Israel permits an average of 80 truckloads a day of aid to enter gaza. An admission of genocide. According to UN World Food Program, Gaza, with a population of 1.5million, requires daily 400 trucks of just food to meet basic nutritional needs. Israel forbids entry of building materials, medicine, electrical appliances,spare parts for cars and machines, fabrics,threads, needles, candles, matches, mattresses, sheets, blankets, cutlery, crockery, cups, glasses, musical instruments, books, tea, coffee, sausages,and shoes. UN relief agencies report 80% of Gazans depend on meager trickle of International aid Israel permits to enter; 450,000 (30%) are without clean water; patients are in dire need of medical care. WHO reports not enough IVs. Blood must be kept in plastic bottles. The woman bomber was in June 2005.

As usual, you comment is irrelevant. You offer a website that discusses Israeli's 10 worst mistakes. If you are unable to make a substantive comment on my posting, #215, why write? The topic was not about your teaching skills: obviously!!

When in the course of this fallen, displaced earth, bad and evil things happen. We may be affluent or poor, of any longitude/latitude. Be as it may, the way we respond to these tragedies is very revealing about the true nature of an individual as well as an nation. Let us therefore respond with "the better nature of our angels". "Therefore by their fruits you shall know them." Although you may be criticized for doing good, continue to continue, for you do so for their sakes and not your own. Love and Joy and Peace be to you all.

Israelis are inherently good people who are just trying to save themselves from consTant terror, being the size of a pea as compared to it's enemy surroundings, who are on the news daily, bombing countries all over the world...not just israel. You don't see Israelis doing that...except where it concerns them in their own country. It was once said that people hate the jews, more than they want peace. They have tainted their reputation, with false accusations and accused them of occupation. Where else in the world does any country have to return land they one in war. I guess we should give back our land to the natives and so should the US...and everyone else. Right. Oh, no that only applies to ISRAELIS. RIDICULOUS. ISRAELis are the only country in the world that apparently has no right to defend themselveS.

Never mind the naive leftwing claptrap ,where,s the Mus lim aid as the Saudis and their fellow Sunnis in the Gulf sent condolences ,which as far as i know doesn,t mend broken bones or pull people from under the rubble?

To no17 .So where,s the bleeding Arab/Muslim effort in Haiti and Saudi and Gulf State condolences don,t save peoples lives ?

i'm a member of the u.s. armed forces with over 20 years of service. but my views on any given subject are based on my own knowledge/observations, and perception of right/wrong and good/bad, given the history and or circumstances it involves. you may categorize me as "leftist" on this issue, while someone else would say i'm "right-wing" on another. i am neither. i am dead center, straight across the board, and any deviations from there reflect of what i've mentioned above. i am not anti-anyone, i don't buy into prejudice or stereotypes, and i am pro-people. there lies my concern, meo. i despise the policies of hamas as much as i do those of the israeli government, but my empathy for BOTH the palestinian people and the people of israel is EQUAL; and that it might appear otherwise results from the magnitude and disparity of one's suffering and oppression at the hands of the other. secondly, the "type" of israeli assistance being touted in haiti, which i had referenced, is NOT the type of aid that you mention being stolen by hamas. again i ask, how can hamas "steal" it? people in these talkbacks often brag about the u.s. using certain military tactics adapted from the idf. so what about israel learning one BIG one from the u.s. regarding how best to fight an insurgency? with all the firepower in the world at its disposal, the u.s. has learned that the most effective way of defeating a terrorist insurgency is by winning the trust and the good will(so to speak), of the people. instead israel does consistently does the opposite, by driving the wedge of fear, distrust, and hatred between palestinians and israelis, deeper and deeper. hamas is israel's enemy; not the palestinian people. so WHO wins when they are treated like they ARE?

"in violation of international law ..."(Ron) I don't know of an international law that requires a country to evacuate territories from which it was attacked, without first negotiating suitable terms to ensure that the original aggression would NOT be repeated. Nor do I know of any international law which requires those who were attacked (Israel) to agree, unconditionally, to the terms dictated by the aggressors (the Arabs). So what's the lesson? The aggressors too MUST be prepared to compromise otherwise we will continue to have the stalemate that we have now, forever ... "More than 80% of Gazan agricultural crops were destroyed ..."(Ron) ... In a war that Hamas perpetrated and who voted for Hamas, knowing full well that Hamas stood for war? ANSWER: Most Gazans .... "Over 96 % of Gazans depend on humanitarian aid for basic needs ..."(Ron) Yet they support Hamas who in turn insists on dictating to everyone their terms, namely: They promise to all and sundry that this conflict can end only ONE way: With Israel's destruction. Well then, if THAT is their dream then they should be prepared to reap what they sow, don't you think Ron? "Collective punishment of a civilian population is a violation of article 33 of the 4th Geneva Convention"(Ron) Who says that what Israel is doing is collective punishment? What it IS doing is defending it's own civilians from vicious indiscriminate attacks by war criminals (Hamas and their assorted cohorts) ....

I am a Muslim Arab, and yes I do wonder why Israel does not show the same compassion to the Palestinians whom their are responsible for their man-made earthquake. However, I can not deny that Israeli men and women (not gov) did a great job. They set a an efficiently equipped hospital in Haiti in great speed. And have been working thier heads off to save people. So hats off for those great people and for anyone who has helped.

however, the u.s. and probably some european countries, do in fact provide regular humanitarian aid to countries such as north korea and others with governments they consider to be "hostile". and for natural disasters they invariably recieve humanitarian aid...iran, myanmar, et al. and in iraq and afghanistan, all civilians receive medical care for battle inflicted injuries(and often for any medical needs), regardless of their loyalties.

Global Research 23 January 2010 "A Haiti Disaster Relief Scenario Envisaged by the US Military One Day Before the Earthquake" by Michel Chossudovsky A Haiti disaster relief scenario had been envisaged at the headquarters of US Southern Command (SOUTHCOM) in Miami one day prior to the earthquake. http://www.globalresearch.ca/index.php?context=va&aid=17122 JINSA, The Jewish Institute for Security Affairs and US Southern Command (SOUTHCOM) http://www.jinsa.org/catagory/1/1/21 I do try not to be suspicious... but (heavy+++) US military presence meant for direction of relief efforts in Haiti, and all the Zionist PR relating to the earthquake rescues in Haiti, sure does seem to be in tandem. Kind regards.

You need not be subservient, obeisant, docile, or acquiescent in order to be intelligent. Besides, it matters not what the majority of Gazans are like. They are in all probability pretty good people. The problem is the leadership. Hamas. In you passion to gush about the Gazans' needs, you seem to forget the constraint they are under. If you were driving a truck of food to Gaza, and came under rifle attack, what would you do? Talking to you now, Ron.

You see Ron there is a question, is Israel an occupying power in Gaza? An occupier is one that has effective control over the territory. Israel does not hold that power in Gaza. If the area(s) is under Palestinian control...which it is...just because Israel can control the border between Gaza and Israel doesn't make it an occupying power. I know, this is where you tell me about airspace and access to the beach, save it. The fact is Gaza (the area of land)is completely under Palestinian control therefore NOT occupied. It can only be occupied after Israel invades Gaza and has effective control over that area of land. The fact is Gaza is run by Hamas not Israel which makes article 33 of the 4th Geneva Convention moot. Israel has the right to self defense I think 8-10 thousand rockets launched by Hamas, from Gaza at Israeli civilian centers constitutes War Crimes, don't you?

"we have to rebuild Haiti. It`s probably just as important an issue to the United States as Afghanistan because Haiti is nearly right on our shores." - Yosemite It is far more important that Afghanistan. No one is going to build a boat to escape Afghanistan and end up on American shores. The US used to back brutal military dictatorships in Haiti. The last attempt to impose such was in the early years of the Bush Junta. Fortunately Haitians understood the problem and did away with their Army - which ended the threat of Military Dictatorship. But every time those military dictators raped pillaged and murdered, they cause thousands of Haitians to try and make it to America. Many of them landed in Florida in the 1970s, 80s, and 90s. We used to round them up and send them to Guantanamo decades before we replaced them with Muslims. Unlike Israel, America has mixed motives in aid to Haiti. We not only have a humanitarian imperative, we have a financial and immigration imperative.

Many rthanks indeed for speaking for so many of us readers. The Telegraph [London] ran a blog in which every achievement of Israel in Haitai was juxtaposed with cynical motives.It took several minutes to realise it was a sarcastic joke, so accustomed are we to hostile attitutes to anything and everything Israel and Israelis do.Sadly the worst part of our predicament is caused by loony Left Israeli 'academics' who come here to orchestrate anti-Israeli boycotts.

You cannot bare the fact that Israel has gotten any positive PR. In your eyes, Israel can do no right. It is an evil country with evil motives. Day in and day out, you have to post something negative about Israel, even when Israel does something so right as what it's doing in Haiti. You might as well face it: Your hatred of Israel is obsessive.

MV:"If you would care to examine the web pages of major media outlets in the US, Canada, the UK and elsewhere, you`ll note that each nation`s relief efforts are receiving a great deal of attention within that nation." Indeed, but they don't then crow that this effort demonstrates how much better the "Canadian people", or the "UK people" are to everyone else. That's what is so nauseating about the Israeli reportage: the Israeli response on the ground may indeed be laudable, but there is a CONCERTED attempt inside Israel to use this tragedy as a cynical PR ploy to laud this effort as showing the MORAL SUPERIORITY of Israel. A moral superiority Israel most definitely does not possess.

I would like to point out that in 1998, about 10 years before the 2008-9 Gaza war, before the world knew Osama Bin Laden well, Kenya was attacked by Al Qaeda. One of the first countries to come to our rescue, digging up fragile concrete and glass with the help of those sniffer dogs to get to trapped Kenyans, was Israel. What they did in Haiti is no different from what they did in Kenya and for that I would like to say thank you Israel. Having lived in Israel for 6 months, I cannot excuse what is going on in Gaza but we have to give credit where it is due. For those whose lives you have saved, you surely can do no wrong and thats all that sometimes matters!

It's not that Israelis can do no right, it's simply that it continues to deliberately perpetuate the conflict in order to rob a People of its Right to Self-Determination on its land, and no amount of other actions erases that fact. If you want the world to view you differently, then act differently. It's just that simple.

Israel accepted the Partition by a mere majority of one vote. "Young man, you need a concentrated dose of education in historical fact. In 1947 the Jewish leaders of then Palestine accepted without hesitation the truncated bit of land offered to them by the U N as their future state."NB Here is what that really had in mind. "The key Zionists had no intention of accepting that UN partition, a recommendation to chop up Palestine into 7 parts. 67% of the population didn't what that done. In 1938 Ben-Gurion said to other Zionists, ?after we become a strong force, as the result of the creation of a state, we shall abolish partition and expand to the whole of Palestine.? Sure enough, after the creation of the state in 1948, Menachem Begin made clear how serious the ?Jews accepting the UN partition? was in reality, ?The partition of the Homeland is illegal . It will never be recognized.The signature of institutions and individuals of the partition agreement is invalid. It will not bind the Jewish people. Jerusalem was and will forever be our capital. Eretz Israel (the land of Israel) will be restored to the people of Israel, All of it. And forever?.

Israel accepted the Partition by a mere majority of one vote. "Young man, you need a concentrated dose of education in historical fact. In 1947 the Jewish leaders of then Palestine accepted without hesitation the truncated bit of land offered to them by the U N as their future state."NB Here is what that really had in mind. "The key Zionists had no intention of accepting that UN partition, a recommendation to chop up Palestine into 7 parts. 67% of the population didn't what that done. In 1938 Ben-Gurion said to other Zionists, ?after we become a strong force, as the result of the creation of a state, we shall abolish partition and expand to the whole of Palestine.? Sure enough, after the creation of the state in 1948, Menachem Begin made clear how serious the ?Jews accepting the UN partition? was in reality, ?The partition of the Homeland is illegal . It will never be recognized.The signature of institutions and individuals of the partition agreement is invalid. It will not bind the Jewish people. Jerusalem was and will forever be our capital. Eretz Israel (the land of Israel) will be restored to the people of Israel, All of it. And forever?.

"Presumably you wish us to agree that if the Palestinians had been subservient, obeisant, docile, acquiescent, subjects of a 42 year harsh and humiliating occupation, in violation of international law, the Israelis would treat them with compassion." No, Ron, all Israelis ever asked is for the Arabs to tend to themselves and cease terror. From the pre-occupation days of fedayin raids to the Qassams of the present, Gazans have violently disagreed. They are the authors of their own wretchedness.

maybe that is why they refuse to take "Help" from Israel. It was also reported that Israel was offereing medical assistance to Palestinians if they played quisling. There is very rarely anything that Israel offeres that is not in some way---self serving. We have come to learn this . "Israel's watchdog body on medical ethics has failed to investigate evidence that doctors working in detention facilities are turning a blind eye to cases of torture, according to Israeli human rights groups. The Israeli Medical Association (IMA) has ignored repeated requests to examine such evidence, the rights groups say, even though it has been presented with examples of Israeli doctors who have broken their legal and ethical duty towards Palestinians in their care. http://electronicintifada.net/v2/article10631.shtml

'In one of your posts some two years ago--you stated you would still not buy anything that was made in Germany--because there was nothing good about them and they had not changed. Many of us feel the same about Israel and any attempt on their part to feel normal---will be nipped in the bud---promptly.' Yes, two years ago, I did make those remarks. What you have forgotten is that I undertook an effort to discuss my experiences about Germany - having lived through the Blitz - with a number of thoughtful modern-day Germans. And I announced on these pages I regretted my old prejudices and my original remarks. What disturbs me about your behaviour, however, is your continued willingness to cast Israel's charitable acts toward Haiti as 'attempt on [Israel's] part to feel normal [to] be nipped in the bud promptly.' There are times when politics must be cast aside, and we must all pull together to help those in horrific need - rather than engaging in cynicism and hate. MV

I think we need you to report on how unjust and wrong we are toward our enemies. The hardest times are close and who would be better to single out our wrongs than our own poet and artist. It might be harder than it looks... but we need it, pointed, accurate, and personal. As strange as it may sound, with all the Haaretz tunes not a single one comes over as a voice of inner critique. The cheap pot - shots thrown around by people barely graduated elementary only exacerbate prolonged silence. The worst are those who simply sing from tunes of our enemies. We need a real reporter. It's hard and unpopular, but we need one. Let the pen of Ilia Erenburg never rest. Pick it up, Bradley.

I'm not sure if the mobile clinic you are referring to is manned by Physicians For Human Rights-Israel and other Israeli humanitarian volunteering medical workers in partnership with Palestinian Medical Relief Society (PMRA). These wonderful human beings are quietly going about the business of healing... physical, mental, spiritually and racially - caring for the holistic self of individuals. Physicians For Human Rights-Israel. PHR-Israel covers the initial cost of consultations at Israeli clinics and medical centers. http://www.phr.org.il/default.asp?PageID=4

'One could easily say the same thing [that Judaism is at its core based upon moral and ethical acts toward those less fortunate] about any religion, yes even Islam.' I agree, but that does not make my statements about Israeli charity toward Haiti platitudinous, or any less apt. 'In reality the Abrahamic faiths including Judaism are far more centred on episodes of great violence and examples of intolerance ...' Historically, perhaps yes. But Judaism (and Christianity) are not practised today as they were hundreds or thousands of years ago. Let us, then, resolve to honour *all* acts of faith which are centred on charity and compassion toward our fellows, rather than criticising them or questioning their motives, please.

Your script is just tedious.You have a few choice lines and you repeat them over and over and over. Better watch out, where the extreme Left and the Extreme Right meet they become the same thing and that's a really dangerous place tae be Laddie. You may even frighten yersel. Yer Pal, "Jummie"

If Israel sending doctors, rescue workers to Haiti is a PR stunt, then Muslim countries NOT SENDING AID to Haiti is a NEGATIVE PR stunt that reflects poorly on Muslim compassion.

is that israel is NOT based on judaism. "judaism at its core is based on acting morally and ethically toward those less fortunate". because israel largely fails to meet those criteria. and i agree. israel is based on zionist values, NOT judaic values... and it follows that its aid to haiti is based on judaic values inherent in the jewish people of israel; NOT particularly those of israel as an entity. this explains the disparity of values so often exhibited by israel. it's the conflict between "judaic" and "zionist" values. and to quote kipling, "never the twain shall meet", because zionism is based on nationalism; NOT on religion.

other obligatory modality does Israel have to assist Gaza in any manner? Gaza is a de facto, if not de jure, sovereign entity not controlled by any outsiders. Moreover, why should Israel assist such an entity that lobs missles at it on a daily basis? If Gaza wants help, let them turn to their brethren on the Egyptian side. They are blood brothers, aren't they? Or is that just a claim?

and i think that YOU need to re-explore history with sources that are a bit less biased. your assertions are based on a version of events widely promoted by zionists and israel. but the fact IS that BOTH sides had rejected the partition plan.

Presumably you wish us to agree that if the Palestinians had been subservient, obeisant, docile, acquiescent, subjects of a 42 year harsh and humiliating occupation, in violation of international law, the Israelis would treat them with compassion. You must be psychotic. No nation can occupy another people and their land without repercussions. No population deserves and self inflicts punishment. More than 80% of Gazan agricultural crops were destroyed by Israel. Israelis snipe at farmers near the border. Over 96 % of Gazans depend on humanitarian aid for basic needs. Israel permits 80 trucks of aid a day to enter Gaza. According to the UN World Food Program the Gaza population of 1.5 million requires 400 trucks a day of just food to meet basic nutritional needs. More than 30 % of Gazans have no access to clean water. Collective punishment of a civilian population is a violation of article 33 of the 4th Geneva Convention. Breaches of the Convention are considered war crimes.

however, the u.s. and probably some european countries, do in fact provide regular humanitarian aid to countries such as north korea and others with governments they consider to be "hostile". and for natural disasters they invariably recieve humanitarian aid...iran, myanmar, et al. and in iraq and afghanistan, all civilians receive medical care for battle inflicted injuries(and often for any medical needs), regardless of their ideological leanings.

There were medical teams from Katar and Emirats too.

i'm a member of the u.s. armed forces with over 20 years of service. but my views on any given subject are based on my own knowledge/observations, and perception of right/wrong and good/bad, given the history and or circumstances it involves. you may categorize me as "leftist" on this issue, while someone else would say i'm "right-wing" on another. i am neither. i am dead center, straight across the board, and any deviations from there reflect of what i've mentioned above. i am not anti-anyone, i don't buy into prejudice or stereotypes, and i am pro-people. there lies my concern, meo. i despise the policies of hamas as much as i do those of the israeli government, but my empathy for BOTH the palestinian people and the people of israel is EQUAL; and that it might appear otherwise results from the magnitude and disparity of one's suffering and oppression at the hands of the other. secondly, the "type" of israeli assistance being touted in haiti, which i had referenced, is NOT the type of aid that you mention being stolen by hamas. again i ask, how can hamas "steal" it? people in these talkbacks often brag about the u.s. using certain military tactics adapted from the idf. so what about israel learning one BIG one from the u.s. regarding how best to fight an insurgency? with all the firepower in the world at its disposal, the u.s. has learned that the most effective way of defeating a terrorist insurgency is by winning the trust and the good will(so to speak), of the people. instead israel does consistently does the opposite, by driving the wedge of fear, distrust, and hatred between palestinians and israelis, deeper and deeper. hamas is israel's enemy; not the palestinian people. so WHO wins when they are treated like they ARE?

The coverage of the Israeli field hospital is covered by all news organizations in the US, including ABC, CBS, CNN, NBC and others, and also by the United Nations. They all called it a Model, self sufficient hospital, set up in eight hours, requiring no outside help or assistance from anyone. The hospital was staffed with the best doctors, surgeons, nurses and the latest medical and surgical equipment. The Israelis moreover included an ethical team to decide how to approach difficult cases. So folks, it is not only Israel that is covering the story. The whole world is watching in awe at this phenomenal effort and capabilities. One reporter called it ?another world compared to the other hospitals. Here are some links: http://video.aol.com/video-detail/cnn-report-israeli-hospitals-in-haiti/2693485949; http://video.aol.com/video-detail/idf-field-hospital-in-haiti/1609740328; http://video.aol.com/video-detail/haiti-israel-hospital-0220/3101770283; Uncontrolled and explosive envy from the Jew haters is perfectly understandable.

Had the Gazans lifted the gauntlet, rolled up their sleeves and started making new lives for themselves when Israel pulled out of Gaz, they would have enjoyed the same kind of generosity and assistance that Israel is giving the Haitians today. Instead they declared war on Israel and started to attack. Even today their leader sitting in Damascus (Mashaal) declared they will never recognize Israel and that the armed struggle will continue. It was their choice and they made it. Now please remind me again why Israel should show any kind of goodwill to them?

Young man, you need a concentrated dose of education in historical fact. In 1947 the Jewish leaders of then Palestine accepted without hesitation the truncated bit of land offered to them by the U N as their future state. The entire Arab world refused to accept it. What planet do you come from?

If most of Israel,s deeds are bad than what people will remamber are those bad deeds.

wounded http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1056526.html Last update - 20:35 18/01/2009 By Haaretz Service and News Agencies Tags: Israel News, hamas, gaza Israel opened a small field clinic on the Gaza border Sunday to treat sick and wounded Gazans, but a human rights group said the move on the day a fragile truce took hold after a bloody three-month offensive was too little, too late. http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1232292919802&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull Jan 20, 2009 22:17 | Updated Jan 21, 2009 9:31 Gazans stay away from Israeli clinic By RUTH EGLASH A mobile intensive care unit and four regular ambulances have been stationed at the Erez clinic by MDA. The facility is staffed with emergency specialists, pediatricians, family physicians, gynecologists/obstetricians, trauma experts, surgeons, orthopedists, ophthalmologists, otolaryngologists and other experts. Tony Laurance, acting head of the World Health Organization's office in Gaza and the West Bank, told The Jerusalem Post earlier this week that he doubted that Palestinians would be allowed by their leaders to access the clinic. Judy Siegel and Tovah Lazaroff contributed to this report.

of your own, not when you demand to keep something of someone elses. The Palestinians offered 72% of their land, the Israeli response has consistantly been 'not enough'.

In one of your posts some two yeras ago--you stated you would still not buy anything that was made in Germany--because there was nothing good about them and they had not changed. Many of us feel the same about Israel and any attempt on their part to feel normal---will be nipped in the bud---promptly. Until they civilise their behaviour towards the Palestinians from whom they continue to steal and oppress. Still the old colonialist apologist ---eh Morris. Hard to get that "ubermenschen" mentality expunged--eh-- Morris. You been sipping --again Morris.

Warm regards.

"Judaism at its core is based on acting morally and ethically toward those less fortunate. Israel`s charity toward Haiti is but one expression of that" One could easily say the same thing about any religion, yes even Islam. In reality the Abrahamic faiths including Judaism are far more centred on episodes of great violence and examples of intolerance than on benevolence as opposed to other eastern faiths like Buddhism,Jainism or Sikhism.

During the two weeks leading up to the natural disaster in Haiti, various Israeli officials and politicians were lamenting the fact that Israel was losing the "PR war". They called for an increased effort on Israels part. This was reported in Haaretz. Also reported was the IDF opening a front on facebook and other social networking sites. After the Haiti earthquake, Israel was quick to send a small team to Haiti. Do you think that the PR implications were not even considered? Do you think that they didn't send their own cameramen and journalists to cover the Israeli efforts? Israels participation is only a small fraction of a huge international effort. To the best of my knowledge, the others didn't bring their PR teams, and they didn't lament the fact that their efforts were not getting the world attention it deserved. Israel deserves some credit to the extent they participated, but I know for sure that there was more than just humanitarian motives at play.

government that continues to ethnically cleanse by pointing out what was done over a century ago in NA, first, consider that at the time, slavery was legal. So, I guess if someone were to capture you and hold you and your children as slaves, such would be fine because it once was accepted. Now, let's do a contrast. Calgary has been planning for years a ring road to allow those on the 2 major highways that cross in the city to bypass downtown, and to allow those who live on one side of the city to get to the other easily. The thing is, one of those 'crappy little reservations' happens to stick into the city, and after years of trying to come up with a deal that would make the government of the Tsuu T'ina nation happy, they said no. And that was that. No expropiating the land, no building on it anyway. And there are no roadblocks keeping them out of the city, they can live here if they want, but I'd need permission from that government to move there. Pretty different, isn't it.

"how about some help for palstinians" So help them already, since you're so concerned. Israel has helped them without pause, so has too much of the rest of an appeasing, gullible world. Israel alone seems to have learned that your "palstinians" invariably bite the helping hand and then resort to chasing their tails.

Seem like that the state of Israel is nothing but a hypocrit paradise.You refuse the Palestinians humanitarian aid but provide it to Haitians thousands of miles away.

Here in Belgium,we have many TV programs from several countries.ALL of them mention the excellent work of the Israelis in Haiti,and these stations are not known to be pro-Israel

how about some help for palstinians

Comparing palestinians to victims of a natural calamity is dubious. Ever heard that the haitians had voted for having an earthquake ? The israelis went there because the haitians are innocent victims of a natural calamity and that Haiti does not wage war to Israel. On the other hand, palestinians voted to have a hate-filled Hamas government at their head. Their democratically-elected government daily boasted about their attacks on southern israeli civilians as "acts of resistance". I don't remember the haitians doing that. Despite all this, palestinians from West Bank and even some from Gaza are allowed in Israel for medical treatment. Few countries have ever done that to an arch-enemy. So, Bradley, you are justly proud of the behaviour of israelis in the haitian calamity. But don't believe they behave much worse with the palestinians than any people at war with another. Quite the contrary. Then, what they do in Haiti won't come up as a surprise to you. It did not surprise ME!

You are correct. Israel does a lot of brilliant medical things. Their health service is one of the best in the world and their medical research is brilliant as well. Compare that to all the undemocratic moslem countries like Saudi Arabia. Saudi Arabia is a very wealthy country due to its oil but has a relatively backward medical service. And that is why the oil rich moslem countries are nowhere to be seen in Haiti. They are backward in relation to science and medicine. Shows if you don't have oil, you have to use your brain

'...I detest the jingoistic nonsense that is being shouting around BACK INSIDE ISRAEL.' If you would care to examine the web pages of major media outlets in the US, Canada, the UK and elsewhere, you'll note that each nation's relief efforts are receiving a great deal of attention within that nation. Israel is no different. What *is* different is that Israel-bashers are so cynical, they will somehow find a way to twist any humantiarian action by Israel into something suspect. Judaism at its core is based on acting morally and ethically toward those less fortunate. Israel's charity toward Haiti is but one expression of that. Judaism, however, is not a suicide pact, and charity toward one's enemies has its limits. When Palestinians are committed to living in peace with Israel, they will see the same Israel that Haiti now appreciates. MV

Objectivly it is not true. Israel is not a pariah state. It trades will all the world, its academics are all around the world. It participates in all sport competitions, etc etc. There is a group of frustrated bashers around the world, which are hardly representative. Morally, I think that the U States rather than Israel should be convicted for war crimes being commited even in this present day with your tax moneys .

...but if you do, it will probably deal with anything except any of your four examples of Hamas stealing supplies meant for civilian work.

"first, i never said israel`s help wasn`t praiseworthy, nor did i suggest it wasn`t saving lives..." Of course eric,you are just working overtime to diminish merits that Israel rightly deserves for its action in Haiti using terms like selective humanitarianism, Israeli humanitarian assistence is not really warranted,real "humanitarianism" is NOT selective or talking about ehtnic cleansing of over 500,000 palestinians or that Israeli help in Haiti has NO bearing on israel`s harsh oppression of the palestinian people. Yes eric you look extremely happy with Israeli assistance in Haiti,as we can see ;-) "secondly, how in the world could the palestinian leadership "steal" any of this sort of help from its people?" Fatah fighters buying guns instead of food for kids http://www.palwatch.org/main.aspx?fi=157&doc_id=1507 Gaza: UN suspends aid operation after second Hamas-linked theft of supplies http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=29802&Cr=gaza&Cr1=unrwa Hamas using cement shipments to build Gaza bunkers http://www.israeltoday.co.il/default.aspx?tabid=178&nid=17216 Hamas confiscates humanitarian aid trucks sent to Gaza from Jordan http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/952322.html Shame on you lefty.

It is high time for others to appreciate Israeli efforts, infact each time there is a natural calimity of this magnitudde, Israel stands for the people indiscriminately. Why not be kind towards Palestinians?

Your response shows the slightest intimation of empathy and understanding for once. You are right, it is unimportant whether or not Israelis receive praise and accolades for properly distributing humanitarian aid. However, it shows the demoralizing perceptions that Israeli society faces daily. Even in response to a kind act, its critiques reject the fact that Israelis can demonstrate empathy for those in need. Your response seems to demonstrate you hold a bit of dissonance with this observation, which is good. I can tell you see the Israelis are capable of extending aid, but this is in contrast to your general opinion that Israeli society is the most depraved form of humanity. I recommend trying to empathize with the Israeli's severe security problem, which is difficult, and leads them to make painful choices with respect to public policy and may not always be effective or the best, but are justifiable and create a level of protection.

With it's humanitarian aid.

"You Israelis are amazing. You are not embarrassed..."(Ron) You are the one who should be embarrassed Ron. Despite all the education that I invested in you on past talkbacks, you still continue to sound off as if you have learned nothing. Here, go read about it again here and educate yourself: http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1138809.html In particular, re-read my last few posts to you, and learn something for a change ...

all humanitarianism is selective. the u.s. is sending infinitely more aid to haiti than to darfur. as for gaza, it has been declared a hostile entity. in other words, the gaza entity and israel are at war. israel is nevertheless allowing humanitarian aid to reach gaza. she did so even during last year's operation. israel, however, is not required to treat gaza as she would treat an ally or a neutral.

global compassion, even from Israel despite the territorial conflict with the Palestinians. When such a natural disaster to an impoverished people with such magnitude of devastation and consequence of misery hits, how can one question any immediate aid and delivery of assistance to the basic human needs of food, medicine, and shelter? If one has been to this part of the world, there's not really a comparison with the livelihood of the Haitians and the Palestinians in Gaza before the recent war that is, Cast Lead, which brought greater misery. An immediate effort of resuming diplomacy would change things.

You might like to know that Cuban medical facilities were operational from the offset not an Israeli one. In fact, Cubans, Brazilians and Venezuelans were attending the injured long before anyone else arrived, most of whom were carrying guns! As for "the outstretched hands" of Israel, you fail to have noticed that such hands either held a gun or were positioned to "strangle' the Palestinians. The evidence of which can be seen in Gaza, in particular, take a look!

first, i never said israel's help wasn't praiseworthy, nor did i suggest it wasn't saving lives... and secondly, how in the world could the palestinian leadership "steal" any of this sort of help from its people?

Dear Mr. Burston... I couldn't help but notice your comment to Natallie Durson. Her reply... for me at least, teaches something about the relevance of the human spirit. In the face of such suffering by the Haitian people and the compassion of the world community...[especially Israeli doctors], Natallie Durson can not bring herself to praise Israeli humanitarian effort. Sincerely... I hope I'm wrong, but this reveals how she has utterly internalized hatred and vengeance. Not only for Israel and it's people, but for the notion the people of Jewish origin would not be able to preform honorable deeds, for its own sake... and not for a nationalistic or a PR agenda. Mr. Burston... I personally would like to acknowledge you unwavering voice of prayer and compassion for Palestinian children, especially during the days of war in Gaza. And now for Haitian suffering... certainly your conscience is not conflicted. May your wise words and charity reverberate throughout us all. Kind regards...

Or you think that selective humanitarianism doesn't save lives? So what they don't help Palestinians-murderers of Israeli children? Is Israeli role in Haiti less important for that?Spit your venom if it makes you happy,who cares,much more important for the rest of us is the fact that Israel is there to help poeple in need and saves others lives and it does it well with all those from others countries.And that is all about. Now the focus is on Haiti because they need help there.Not on Palestinians where the help usualy doesn't reach ordinary people anyway because their leaders steal all they can.

I too want to thank the Israeli teams that went to Haiti to help the Haitian people in their time of need. They seem to have had their teams trained perfectly to help with maximum effectiveness under extreme duress. This shows the Israeli's compassion to their fellow man no matter what their critics say. May G_d bless the Jewsish people and their nation!

thank you, i have know many Hatians, and most of them are kind and descent people.

no one should question the positive aspects of israel's work in haiti. however, to make any claims of it being "humanitarian" in general, because of this and other instances of israel lending assistance to alleviate human tragedy, isn't really warranted. real "humanitarianism" is NOT selective. it's only considerations are "people", and it does NOT recognize borders, nationality, religion, politics, or even conflict.

Your ignorance of Canadian history is appalling.

I'm an American Jew, and I would like to thank you for your comments. More so, thank you for taking a step-back from the war and noting not everything has to be pure hatred. Each country is capable of fantastic things. I myself have a good friend who is Palestinian. Of course it is much easier for us to put aside our differences from the other side of the world. Once again, Thank you.

israel's birth included the ehtnic cleansing of over 500,000 palestinians from their homes and ancestral land; and the pogrom against them had begun long before that. NEITHER the zionists nor the arab nations had accepted the u.n. partition, and the zionist move to secure the additional territory was already in the offing even before the arab advance. how can you possibly envision anything different than the status quo had they NOT advanced against israel, when in fact the natural human response to an invasion, especially one oriented towards the complete dispossession of indigenous people, is armed resistance? the israeli mission to haiti, and the efforts of its personnel, is worthy of the highest praise; but it has absolutely NO bearing on israel's policies and harsh oppression of the palestinian people.

The Cuban doctors- about 300 of them were already in Haiti before the quake hit. Cuba is a neighbor with close ties to Haiti. It is a great thing that they were there ..but do not make up stories to fit your apparent dislike for Israel and Israelis. And Swiss Dino you thank Johnboy without even thinking that he is BS ing

You Israelis are amazing. You are not embarrassed, it seems, to try to make us believe Israelis show compassion to Palestinians similar to that shown to Haitians.You place the Palestinian population under a harsh, humiliating 42 year occupation in violation of UN resolutions and international law, you take their land, build on their territory, and build roads on their land they can't use, all in violation of the 4th Geneva Convention. You hold over 11,000 in prison, many without charges, and, with the blockade of Gaza, conduct the worst violation of human rights in the world today. On top of that you build a wall on their land that the UN International Court of Justice has declared illegal. In the field of human rights violations Israel compares to North Korea and Burma. Anecdotal evidence of medical care is farcical. Human rights organizations declare that dozens of Gazans have died during the last 18 months while waiting, or being denied, clearance to enter Israel for medical care.R

All my "chosen"grandparents were from "Mother Russia". I want to gag when I hear that reference. Mother Russia is a sadistic country that allowed her armies to rape and pillage. Today aside from oil revenues all your country can offer is vodka and drugs. We Jews may have a little country but it is a home. Huge Russia has an ego of superiority but we all know the truth. There is nothing your people can offer to the world....Nothing since the MOTHER started to persecute her enlightened "chosen" children.

Israel HAS offered territorial concessions for peace. The Arab answer has always been "No!"

The reason that the Israelis are getting so much attention for their efforts in Haiti is not PR. It is because the Israelis were the only ones doing it right! CNN reported how Israeli doctors set up a field hospital and were doing life saving surgery while medical teams from other countries, including the US, were standing around with their fingers up their nose trying to figure out what it was they were supposed to do.

The magnitude of benefits from the Israeli team in Haiti is brought home when one realises that that it is the only completely functioning modern medical facility currently there. Not even the mighty USA, not to mention the other volunteer nations, has been able to match tiny Israel's mind -blowing ongoing humanitarian contribution, which has already been acknowledged by Haiti's president. Does this not starkly highlight what might have been in Gaza and elsewhere in the Mideast, had Israel's neighbors not continued, over the past sixty years and up to the present, to blindly reject the outstretched hands repeatedly offered them instead of indulging in hate, war, violence, glorification of death and self destruction.

Mr.Durston...why do you even read Israeli newspapers if you are an anit semite,anti-israel ???

It is refreshing to see someone who is not afraid of saying something good about Israelis. We must remember they are often the first people to answer a call to help due to a disaster. I'm not sure how they do it when the whole world seems to hate them. That's sad. They are the apple of God's eye. Jesus was Jewish. I thank God for them.

'...Either your conscience is conflicted, or it is no conscience at all.' You attribute this to all who live in the Middle East. I doubt it. I could imagine many, many people in the Middle East who have no conflicts of conscience at all. What's more, they could even be good, ethical people. Perhaps it's just you. Perhaps the conflict arises out of your need to support a cause you yourself know is evil?

I have forever been amazed at the great humanity of Israelis--EXCEPT when it comes to the question of making peace with the Palestinians via territorial compromises. Israelis often seem to be amazed that the world doesn't understand their basic goodness, simply because the world equates Israeli and Palestinian suffering exactly the same, while Israel for some reason sees its own suffering as more meaningful than that of others.

you're living on stolen and ethnically cleansed indian land. I think you should move. If the indians started rocketing you from their crappy little reservations you stuck them on, and your police cannot enter the reservations, but they continue to send kids with bombs strapped on to your cities and rockets hit your towns, would you leave? and consider that your land was historically indian, whereas israel's land was historically at least partly the jews land.. so where do you get off telling israelis what to do? I think you are a hypocrite. Pierre trudeau called out he army in the war measures act for far less that rockets and suicide bombers...so go back to your polluting oil patch, fix your own problems, and again, leave your home and stolen land and give it back to the indians. all I see in you is a reflexsive jew hater. Arent you thankful israel allows free speech unlike ANY arab country? LOL

What an interesting juxtaposition. The Haitian situation is simple as was the Indonesian Tsunami. Terrifying natural disaster followed by huge international effort to help. It seems like nothing in the middle East is ever simple. Gaza was a man made disaster brought on by Military action, and by Hamas missile launchers and really by 60 years of military, political, economic and racial conflict. There is no action in such an environment which is not beset by "the rule of unintended consequences." I hope that fifty years from now, the Palestinians and Israelis alike will look back on this era and shudder as they note by comparison how good life has become and how insane it use to be. Peace. Stephen

You're quite correct of course. The fact they are actively doing something is of no consequence. It would be much better if they did nothing. After all Haitan Men, Women and Children mean little, not even 200,000 of them.Millions of displaced souls are an irrelevency in you judgement. Some may say that the war between Israel and the Arab countries has nothing to do with this and that Israel has always had a Policy of giving aid. Giving or not giving, which would you prefer Israel to do were you a Haitian?

He is right about one thing.For some people Israel can do no right,but what is worse,for the same people a bunch of terrorist can do no wrong.You people make Goebbles seem as amateur.

There is always a BUT with you.It is quite clever of you to play the "fair"guy But other clever guys knows they you are not.You play it differently BUT there is no difference from the other Israel haters. BTW, your country is more known for doing evil things silently,and good things only in the lime light.

"Two faced"you said,maybe the Arabs need the third face.Atleast Israel does something for some people.Where is the Muslim"brotherhood" when Muslims are in need?where is the billions from oil?they only donate money for bulding mosques in Europe,and for terror logistic in the rest of the world.Muslims are not realy known as helping people,only demanding help from others,and giving death and destruction in return.

FOX News made a point of reporting that the nearby [dirt poor] Cubans had not played any role in the rescue efforts. Being generally ignorant they were not to know that the Cubans had hundreds of doctors working in Haiti 'before' the earthquake struck and had in any case sent a further planeload of doctors to the island after the quake. FOX didn't bother to correct their story. Perhaps Israel should make common cause with Cuba?

As somebody who grew up in Carmel & Salinas, the value is that it allows people to vent rather than going postal. The talkbacks aren't pretty. But the alternative isn't either. Just imagine if some of the more vehement just internalized what they say in talkbacks. They'd explode. It also may have saved a few from heart attacks.

Israeli actions in Haiti are entirely separate from the issue of the occupation, and it is both cynical and simple-minded to connect them. The occupation should not be used to taint the effort in Haiti (they're saving lives, for God's sake), and the effort in Haiti should not be used to whitewash the occupation.

Israels efforts in Haiti are great, and we should absolutely thank them for that, but her emphasizing of it, is not that great.... The real deal is to do good things silently.

as usual, i agree with all that you said. shabbat shalom, cipora

a talkback, but a column by Anshel Pfeffer that appears to have been written without seeing Bradley's column. http://haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1144476.html

Which I could be that forgiving of Israeli's...but I can't! TATA

I'm always amazed at how little Israel really understands...as the lady ND says..If you're sincere, no one would have known Israel was there in the first place... It's a PR stunt..and it's falling flat..It's insincere... TATA

The people of Haiti have suffered occupation as well as natural disaster. Haitians have been kept poor, without adequate housing, and have been denied the right to democracy because of USA anti-democracy foreign policies! The earthquake has impacted upon such foreign thuggery by Bush &Co! You may care to read: Common Dreams.org 21 January 2010 "What You are Not Hearing About Haiti ( But Should be)" by Carl Lindscoog http:www.commondreams.org/view/2010/01/14-2 "The Shock Doctrine." The rise of Disaster Capitalism by Naomi Klein (Jewish Canadian author.) http://www.naomiklein.org/shock-doctrine The Haiti earthquake was a horrible natural disaster. Israel is showing the good it has to offer to the world in Haiti, but Israel's occupation of Palestine is one of the horrible, miserable reminders of a man made disaster... didn't you see images of carnage, death and mayhem left by Israeli bombs in Gaza? For Christ sake! People are still dying in Gaza for of medical care/housing!

If the Palestinians had not chossen a path of terror the Israelis would have been of the same genorosity to them as they can prove it to the rest of the world in time of hardship. Gaza is a self inflicted punishment and the blame for its disaster lies barrely in the hands of The Gazians. Even Egypt sees the light so change your ways and welcome the kindness of us Jews if you dare!

First off to Steven in Switzerland. You will never see anything worthwhile on CNN. FOX NEWS interviewed the doctors from Israel several times. When I heard Israel was sending the medical and search and rescue teams I was proud of them. I am a christian and I love Israel and her people.

..but I detest the jingoistic nonsense that is being shouting around BACK INSIDE ISRAEL.. What is shouting around BACK INSIDE ISRAEL,Johnny? Do people walk around inside Israel pumping their chests, shouting `Look at us in Haiti`? Are there loudspeakers shouting that from the rooftops? No Johnny, there are people around the world giving Israel her dues, based on the accomplishments of the Israeli team & information coming from Haiti with regards to that. And of course there is an immediate forces in play, downgrading, humiliating, usurping any Israeli goodwill. Guess who is doing that & why? That what this article is about. Oh, & one more thing. There are always the spinster around who would love to margianalize or `cool off` such articles about Israeli good deeds. A sligh acknowledgement, otherwise no big deal, nothing exciting here. God forbit, Israeli positive vibes will negate or even exceed negative pressure that shoud be ankering `Zionism` round the clock. Right Johnny?

It is no mistake to defend yourself against your enemies who are attacking your country. We Jews hav a saying. If someone comes to kill you, kill him first. It is called self defense.I feel no remorse for last years war. The people in Sderot were suffering and couldn't stand it anymore.It is too easy for people in the safety of their homes in other countries to judge us, but any country would have done the same. I saw on tv and Israeli rescuer who crawled into a small hole in the rubble of a building in order to pull a man out. There was a danger that the whole thing could have collasped on both of them.He pulled the man out alive. I can't see any ulterior motive for risking his life to save a stranger.

PEP (progressive except Palestine). Sad really.

which consists of the israeli "supporters" who mindlessly used israel's mission to haiti as a means to attack others by boasting israel's efforts while questioning the existence of any effort by its neighbors(and muslims in general). without any concern expressed for the victims of this tragedy, and with such obvious maliciousness, it was apparent their concern was NOT for the haitians, but rather to denigrate their perceived foes. and it was this same general bunch who responded to the reports of palestinian collections for haitian relief with sarcastic contempt and ridicule. so yes indeed, the israeli mission, and especially the personnel involved, are worthy of EVERYONE'S highest praise...and those who chose to cast doubt on israeli motives during this horrible crises, ARE completely out of line. but they certainly aren't the ONLY ones who are.

Or Australia. We spend $300 million or more per year to keep out a few hundred Afghan refugees, then we murder Afghans without the blink of an eye. And we only sent $15 million in aid to Haiti after being complicit in the deaths of 1.3 million Iraqis. We are all snivelling hypocrites, Israel no worse nor better than the rest of us.

Israel is willing to help all who are in need. the shame is blamed on the countries that are allied with radical Islam decline help from Israel when a crisis hits. I am proud to be Jewish. Where are the Iranians? Perhaps they are too busy building nukes!

while. After all, they're sending 30 tonnes of assistance, and so any criticism of them must be muted because they are obviously great humanitarians.

Omar, please dont forget that the Israelis sent the samr teams to the Balkan wars as well as to Turkey when an earthquake struck that country. In addition, we do offer humanitarian aid to disasters in muslim and arab countries, but as always, they do not wish to accept the help or aid. Besides Turkey, i dont see any other muslim or arab country who has sent help or aid to the people of Haiti. (please correct me or let me know if they did). I think that bigots and anti-semites will always find ways to discredit Israel and its good deeds. Left wingers, certain Muslims and Arabs cannot stand the fact that Israel has responded so swiftly to send humanitarian aid all the while they seat around and try to spread lies and BS. Action is what counts not words. As an Israeli American, i can be proud of the help Israel and America is doing for Haiti. At least we are doing something, what are they ( certain Muslims and Arabs) doing to help the people of Haiti.

the Israeli response to the Haitian disaster, let me make one thing clear. The issue is not the medical team, or the great work they are doing, the issue is the PR team, trying to use that work to wash away the memories of the humanitarian disaster that still plagues Gaza, that was the result of deliberate Israeli government policy. If a business that exploited third world workers made an effort to help in the wake of the tsunami, and then tried to use those efforts to make people disregard that exploitation, would criticism of mean that people were criticising the help, or the record of that company?

Hi White Russian. We are all without knowledge- ignoramuses. But there are degrees of ignorance. Yours is beyond the boiling point.

Across the web, readers have the opportunity to comment on articles. Newspapers have granted this priviledge for a few years and my question here is what is the value? The people who post here are not representative of anything. Comments are usually repetitive, boorish, racist and poorly thought out--and not just here at Haaretz--look at any American, British etc online paper and you always see the same clowns making the same stupid comments over and again. For those of you who get out once in a while, most people you meet are more reasonable and educated--or at least know how to pretend to be. Instead of calling out some of the most obnoxious members of this web-setting freakshow, my question is really for Haaretz--what value does this paper get from the talkbacks?

The only Arab countries that sent help to Haiti seems to be Jordan Egypt The Palestinian Arabs in Gazza (I am not going to say that it was a PR the way you shamelessly accused Israel) and also although not an Arab state but a predominantly Muslim state Turkey. The oil rich Saudi Arabia, Iran etc did not send any so far. They might do it soon I don;t know. The problem is your double standard accusing Israel's help in good faith as PR. You are not different than Chavez who accused US for invading Haiti. Since you are in NY do what I did stop around Eastern Pkw in Brooklyn where the Haitian community live and extend your helping hand and see if they really care why people are helping their relatives in distress in the Island or why? Be a human being not a monster in a case like this accusing hard working aid staff doung PR.

This quite repulsive individual, whose real name is most likely Mustafa or Fatima, will bash Israel until his/ or her dying day, no matter what. If this person's posts were of some intellectual merit, I could perhaps understand your giving them a voice. But they are so consistently stupid, that you insult readers intelligence by publishing "her" diatribes. To sneer at Israel's current life and limb saving heroic efforts in Haiti (oil rich Saudis sent condolences!) is the penultimate in ingratitude and ill breeding. It is long past overdue that Haaretz place a permanent ban on this Durson person's mails. I suspect that such a move would even benefit your numbers although there is surely a point where good manners alone override all other considerations.

Hi Natalie...Let's Play....You and Me...... Suppose you were a secret agent. You were caught by "the enemy" (oh my!). Who would you choose to get captured and questioned by.......? a) Taliban (Afghani or Pakistani...your choice) b) Syrian Intelligence Service c) Iranian Republican Guard (do you like unconsented sex?) d) US Miltary Police from Abu Gharib or e) CIA personnel at Black Ops Prison f) North Korean Police g) Israeli GSS (Internal Security Service or, in other words, Jews!) If you answered g you are in for a bad time. If you answered anything else, you are in for a VERY bad time. Keep things in proportion young lady. Israel has its faults, but it still stands heads and shoulders above other entities professing to be enlightened out there. Please remember......

An American student from Rutland, Massachusetts is believed to be in the ruins of the "Hotel Montana" in Haiti. Could the Israeli team not try and find this lady and her American friends ????????????????????

Look, I am sure many of the doctors are sincere about saving Haitian lives. However, Israel's right wing supporters were automatically saying that Muslim and Arab states weren't helping when many of them were doing that. They were saying helping Haiti was evidence that the IDF and Israel are so moral. This fits in with Akiva Eldar's talking about of the whitewashing of Israel's actions in Gaza in 2008/2009 and in Lebanon in 2006. Israel killed far more Lebanese civilians than it will save of Haitian ones. It used cluster munitions in an illegal manner in Lebanon. I am glad Haitians are being saved by Israelis, and I support help from the US, Turkey, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, France, Canada, Germany, South Korea, Qatar, Morocco etc... As many lives need to be saved as possible over there. However, I think all those IDF youtube videos are kind of tasteless. I support the Israeli doctors, however. I appreciate what they are doing. I question the sincerity of IDF.

At a time like this there should not be mud slinging let us help these poor people. It does not matter if the helpers are black white Jewish Muslim Christian,they need our help let us give it without criticising where the aid is coming from.I am sure that the Haitians willl be happy to receive aid from anyone so cut the squabling actions speak louder than words. Abi Gezunt

When i see a child in pain or suffering i want to help no matter who they are.The people of Haiti are suffering we as humans have a duty to help not hinder the people that are involved in humanitarian efforts there.This is about Haitian people not about who did what to whom.If this world was made up of more people that helped instead if hindering and being negative about what THEY do not like we would all be better off. Abi Gezunt

Stop your ticklin Jock. Youre awa wi the fairies laddie.

Suicide bombers?the calls to obliterate Israel by Islam? They did not come from Haiti did they?

I bet your people adored Wlassof and the russian traitors that fought for the nazis.They were fueled with bad vodca.Too much METHANOL damaged their brains and yours.Before you mention Theodor Herzl,you should wash your mouth with anhydridous H2SO4...Get accostumed to the JEWS THRIVING FOR ANOTHER 6000,WHILE ALL THE HYENAS OWLING IN THE DARKINESS OF STUPIDITY WILL DROP DEAD ALONG THE ROAD...DUSVIDANIE BOLSHOY DURACK

Maureen this is about the people of Haiti keep it that way .Why are you so negative in life look for positives you may actually enjoy living.

All other countries announced their intentions to help Haiti. Yet only Israel was accused of cynical motives, even the the Palestinians in Gaza who blatantly politicized their "help", comparing earthquakes to their self inflicted situation were praised by the same people who attacked Israel. Go figure? Even CNN who often attack Israel had praise,here: http://edition.cnn.com/2010/WORLD/americas/01/18/haiti.earthquake/index.html?hpt=T1 The truth was this: Dr. Jennifer Furin of Harvard Medical School,""I've been here since Thursday. No one except the Israeli hospital has taken any of our patients," she told CNN's Elizabeth Cohen." "the Israeli hospital and said it was "like another world," with imaging equipment and other machinery. "They have actual operating rooms, and it's just amazing." The truth was Israel just came to help, what's wrong with that?

Good deeds in Haiti, fine. How about some medical supplies and treatment for the children of Gaza?

My problem ISN'T that Israel has sent a field hospital to Haiti to carry out much-needed humanitarian aid. That I applaud. My problem is with the Israel propaganda machine blowing its trumpet about how Israel is doing this, precisely because that propaganda machine is attempting to spread an untruth i.e. that Israel ALONE is putting in the hard yards. It isn't. Cuba had 400 doctors on the ground before the first Israeli even stepped onto a plane, and even now it has 30 field hospitals inside Haiti. No a peep about that in any mainstream newspaper, as far as I can tell. Canada has three field hospitals in place, ANY ONE of which completely dwarfs the Israeli field hospital. You wouldn't know that if I didn't just tell you that, right? It isn't the Israeli effort on the ground that I bash - that's terrific - but I detest the jingoistic nonsense that is being shouting around BACK INSIDE ISRAEL. It's demeaning, and it's misleading, and it should stop.

read the comments on this site. For you that do hate us, a small reminder: We have guns, we have bombs, we have every type of weapon to defend ourselves and more importantly, we have the will to do so. Should you choose to have your ass tightened right up, we shall oblige.

and who were dancing and distributing sweets in the streets while Israel mourned killed children???? Get real people,who would help murderer of his own children? Funny to see people here judging others by how much they helped Palestinians,but let's say that after Cast Lead,Israel was ready to help Gazans,but Hamas refused to let them in.Personally I believe that Gazans should ask for help those who pushed then into war against Israel by repeating that they have the right to resist occupation by all means. You breake it, you fix it.

#130 referring to #71 I don't fit any of the categories you list. I just think that you are way over-the-top with your holier-than-thou name-calling. Could it be that I touched a raw nerve with you,Hmmm??

policy of the Arab league. Refusal of the Clinton plan. Refusal of Abbas to negotiate. Bet you dont get that on Electronic intifada or Islam on line or ISM website or Jewwatch or HRW or Counterpunch or Al Manar or Al Aqsa or all the Arab/American websites You poor people you have no resources at all.

Israelis made a valiant effort to do whatever they could to help Haitians in dire need! Enough said! Anyone who wants to make poilitical hay of this or bash Israel for it, is a despicable idiot who carries his brain between his knees!

rescue efforts. Los Angeles sent a 72 man search and rescue team. You can read about it in the LA Times. New York City Sent a 60 odd person rescue team made up of members from the NYFD and NYPD. You can read about their work in the NY Daily News. British rescue efforts can be read about on the BBC web site. Yes, part of this is to let the folks at home know what good their 'boys' are doing. But it also keeps the events of the tragedy in the face of the readership, providing a means of transmitting the realization of how dire the need is for help. You read about the rescue efforts, you see a commercial on TV to donate to the cause, and the hand reaches for the checkbook (ok, nowadays the text message for an instant donation). But the reality is, everyone is highlighting their participation.

We all Know -- Israel is stuffed if it don't and stuffed if does--- and we should all know Israel will win out in the end

go to meir hospital in kfar saba,north of tel aviv. it is the main regional hospital. see who is being served there and then refrase your opinion.

Since you only speak to other retrograde Marxists and ISM zombies, you may have an exaggerated sense of the truth and acceptance of your position.

Bar Rafelli.

Ghassan asks if Israel would help Gazans in the event of an Earthquake. Of course! Just as we would help you if a quake hit Lebanon. This so such an obvious answer for any Israeli. Pity it is not so obvious for some other people. Question is, would Hamas/Hizbullah allow Israel to help or would they prefer to sacrifice the people under their control to appease their selfish beliefs and their Iranian bosses? Remember when Iran rejected Israeli aid following the quake in Iran? Anyway Ghassan, thanks for daring to read an Israeli paper!Hopefully we will enjoy coffee together one day.

I am of the opinion that those Israelis who have participated in saving Haitians deserve the highest praise. There will always be folks who will find some way to criticise the Israelis; never give the Israelis a fair shake. To these folks there will always be an ulterior motive, a self-serving reason for the Israelis to help others in need. In contrast to Hamas and other militants in the region, Israel has the means and technology to help people world-wide who might be confronted with similar natural disasters. Perhaps, militant Palestinian leadership should be held responsible for their Lack of relief aid to the Haitians. I understand Leadership has quite a bit of cash in their stash.

Kol HaKavod to the Israeli team for their efforts in Haiti.

The Israelis help Haiti and you infer the Jews are all gonna die. Astute, how very perceptive.

Dozens of British, Latin American, US and German doctor volunteers prefer to work at the Israeli Hospital facility because of its superior efficiency, organization, professionalism and creative solutions to shortages in medical supplies.

...Old ladies. You attitude robs both sides of all responsibility and authority.

Burston is right that Israel's aid to Haiti is a very noble thing. However, look at the numbers - Israel's aid constitutes about $10 to $20 million, about a day or two of US aid to Israel. Other countries of comparable population like Norway are giving as much or more, and have given much more aid in the past. Any sorts of accusations against Israel for this aid are indeed outrageous. But the level of self-congratulation we see here is also a bit silly, isn't it? Israel is giving $2 per Israeli, assuming one month more of presence, according to another Haaretz article. Canada has pleged $555 million, about $10 per Caandian. You don't see Canadians telling themselves (and the world) how wonderful they are. Likewise, Norway is giving $4.50 per person, and Sweden is giving $3.

You have no idea how infantile and ridiculous you both sound. Grow up and face the facts.

1) Hamas is responsible for the devastation of Gaza. Just ask yourself how muc of aid received by the international community has actually gone into bettering the lives of the people there? (Nil). IAnd we all know what brought on Cast LEad, don't we? 2)Israel is the only country that de facto procides Gazans with tons of aid daily - including water, electricity, and medical treatment in Israeli hospital for those (especially children) with life threatening conditions. 3) There is no hypocracy in helping those in need as opposed to those whose raison d'etre is your destruction. 1)

I have no doubt that if the citizens of Gaza recognize the State of Israel and agree to live in peace with it, Israel would do the same probably more to help Gazans should an earthquake or other catastrophe happen there. I suspect Israel will help in the West Bank now. But you cannot expect help from someone you vow to exterminate and fire rockets at its' civilian population. I do not know of any starving population, as the Israel bashers say is the situation in Gaza caused by Israel, capable of launcing missisles. Starving Gazans are a lie made up by Israel bashers, Jew Haters and antisemites. Starving people are weak and slowly dying and incapable of launching missisles.

things that Israel has done in the past with one good deed. But one good deed is not going to balance what Israel is now doing in Gaza and has for the last year. Gazans would be happy to have medical help, access to supplies and the delivery food and other stuff. They don't. I am usually in agreement with Bradley, but I think on this one he has run into one act--however good--that just simply cannot balance the ugly stuff the Israelis are doing in Gaza.

I am really proud of what our little country is doing in Haiti. Big strong world leader America has taken a whole week to get organised enough to send serious help, while we set up a top quality field hospital and rescue teams immediately from the other side of the world. Only some of the Arab countries are helping, and minimally at that. They can't bear to part with their oil money and help others.

"The work of Israeli doctors at an emergency field hospital in Port-au-Prince ? where a 220-strong military medical team has treated thousands in a huge field hospital ? has become the subject of an e-mail campaign lauding the relief mission." They are using a software called megaphone that calls these internet soldiers to arms. They also use it to artificially change the result of polls as well. Ingenious, except that everyone knows about it now.