Netanyahu to returning Haiti team: You raised Israel's image
Hero's welcome greets 200-member Israeli rescue crew; IDF Chief: Other armies were astounded by us.
By Amos Harel Tags: Israel newsThe Israel Defense Forces team dispatched to Haiti in the wake of the devastating earthquake two weeks ago returned home on Thursday morning, receiving a hero's welcome from top Israeli officials at the Ben Gurion International Airport.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Defense Minister Ehud Barak, and IDF Chief of Staff Gabi Ashkenazi were on hand at the airport to laud the 200-member team as it landed.
"You have raised human spirits and elevated the name of the State of Israel and the Israel Defense Forces," Netanyahu told the returning team. "As many plot against us, distort and muddy our names, you have shown the real IDF."
"The Chief of Staff has told me that the other militaries were astounded by how quickly we arrived at the scene and began to work," added the prime minister. "Those who have seen the IDF over the years, operating under seemingly impossible situations and missions, are not surprised."
"Many have tried recently to tarnish our image," Ashkenazi said in his welcome. "With you deeds, you have proven that the opposite is true."
"Facing this massive catastrophe was an exceptional group of people from the Home Front Command and the IDF Medical Corps," Ashkenazi said. "This group was a source of pride for every Jew."
The Chief of Staff told the team that during his recent trip to Europe, numerous heads of foreign armies praised the work of the IDF crew, adding: "I was proud to be the man representing them."
In his welcoming address, Barak added his own accolades and praised the team for its efforts. "We all watched with excitement as the eyes of the world were on you. It warmed the heart to see you fulfill your professional mission."
"In a world where the IDF is criticized, you showed the true spirit of the IDF and the true spirit of Israel," Barak added.
The Home Front Command decided this week to bring the team back earlier than planned, as senior officers on hand in Haiti felt they had fulfilled their role in helping the earthquake victims.
One of the victims of the quake was a six-year-old boy named Wadli, who joined the Israeli team in its return. Wadli was born in Haiti with a life-threatening heart defect. In the coming weeks, he will undergo surgery at the Wolfson Hospital.
"I'm sure that the main memories you take with you will be of Waldi, the 16 babies that you delivered and the thousands of injured and sick people that you cared for," Barak told the team.
Maj. Gen. Yair Golan, the head of the Home Front Command, returned to Israel last Friday after spending a few days with the Israelis in Haiti, commanded by Brig. Gen. (res.) Shalom Ben-Aryeh. The command and the IDF Medical Corps are now preparing for the next stages of their mission: closing up shop and leaving behind a large part of the equipment brought there as a final goodwill gesture to the people of Haiti.
The winding up of the mission involved assisting the members of the team in returning to normal life back home after the complex experiences they they had, as well as drawing the necessary professional conclusions from the Haiti operation.
On the professional level, the IDF learned much about running a field hospital under such difficult conditions and operating rescue teams; and about dealing with a mass disaster that thankfully Israel has never experienced. The up close experience of dealing with an earthquake and its aftermath - a number of aftershocks occurred while the Israel mission was there - increased awareness of the enormous danger of such a natural event, but the upper echelons of the Home Front Command believe the situation in Israel is very different. While the earthquake in Haiti reached a magnitude of 7 on the Richter scale, it seems the incredible destruction resulted more from the poor-quality construction there. Two similar strength earthquakes in California in recent decades resulted in only a few dozen killed in each quake.
Members of the rescue team who toured the area were surprised to discover there are almost no buildings built with reinforced concrete in Haiti. "You wander through the ruins and see no iron bars. Everything is made out of simple concrete, which turns into a brittle material in an earthquake of this magnitude. Everything collapses," said one member of the Israeli mission.
In Israel, by way of comparison, a far stricter building code was adopted in the mid-1970s, making buildings far less vulnerable to earthquakes.
The main conclusion of the Haiti mission from an Israeli perspective, said one senior officer, concerned the "awareness of the citizens and local authorities of the possibility of an earthquake. It is possible that more exercises are needed, but if you prepare properly for a missile attack on the home front, then you have 95% of the tools [needed] at your disposal for dealing with an earthquake," said the officer.
An analysis of the decision making process on sending the team once again shows that time is the critical factor. Israel moved quickly, in terms of making its decision and making the necessary preparations.
This provided effective help at a very early stage. In the case of Haiti, the rescue operations among the ruins - even though they drew huge media coverage - were downplayed. "It is very exciting to pull out survivors, but it's a drop in the bucket. We rescued or aided in the rescue of four people, while all the rescue teams from all the countries saved 132 people altogether. It seems almost 200,000 people died in the earthquake," said the senior officer.
Israel's main accomplishment was in the quick deployment of the field hospital in Haiti. "For five critical days, it was the best hospital in Port-au-Prince," said the officer. "We provided timely medical care to about 1,000 people, we conducted 300 operations and delivered 16 babies. In the past few days the Americans arrived and then you can put things in proportion and become more modest in the face of their airlift and the scope of their aid. You need to understand that those who will continue to treat the main suffering there are the Americans," he added.
For Israel, this is further proof of the importance of field hospitals; the IDF closed the last one five years ago and only reopened them as part of the lessons learned from the Second Lebanon War.
The IDF has praised the cooperation with the Foreign Ministry and El Al during the mission to Haiti. The good public relations is seen as being of only secondary importance: "Our people went to Haiti to save lives, to provide the best medical care they can and to represent Israel. That is the proper order of priorities. They did not think constantly about the blue and white flag flying overhead," said the senior officer.
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A member of Israel's mission to Haiti operating in the field hospital last week. |
| Photo by: (AP) |
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Yes, the Israelis are capable of doing good, but i highly doubt the IDF would have gone to Haiti had cameras never been invented.
minded knows that Israel is a top first world country which came up in a such a short time being in a state of war , and living in a worst neighborhood in the world . So the burning sense of jealousy , in face of such accomplishments , will always push many to the edge . But this is an old story few wants to admit , instead they continue demonizing Israel .
Marco, first of all, just because I include my hometown in the talkback info doesn't mean you have any idea about where I'm sitting, what I'm doing for Haiti, or anything about me. Second of all, where I am sitting is irrelevant to my point. My point is not, I don't think Israel should have sent a rescue team. I think that every country that can send aid in whatever form (financial or material), including Israel, should do it. I am glad that Israel sent a team, just as I am glad that Saudi Arabia sent aid. (See Basil's message.) But yes, it disgusts me to see the Israeli government using it for crass political purposes. I'm equally disgusted by all the comments here about how Jews are so great and Israel is so great for contributing, as if that's the moral to get out of this story. If there's a lesson to got from Netanyahu et al's comments, it should be that Tzedakah is a duty, not an opportunity for kudus, and that the highest form of giving is anonymous.
I echo Chief of Staff Gabi Ashkenazi statement the Israel's Hati team was a source of pride for every Jew. I followed their stories in the news every day with tears in my eyes. Words aren't enough to express my pride in that team!
Boy, I guess humility is not in Bibi's or Ashkenazi's vocabulary. Believe me, the world is definitely "astonished" at the actionsn of the IDF, but not in the way THEY think!
It's much easier to be disgusted behind the comfort of your computer in Washington rather than in Haiti. Better ask the poor Haitians what they feel about the Israeli know-how and especially those whose lives were saved by the Israeli rescue team and doctors.
I am glad French, Israeli, Turkish, Lebanese, American teams went to help Haiti. We keep hearing that the Arab and Muslim aren't doing much. That's propaganda. It's a way to say Israelis are angels, Arabs are misers and racist. The fact of the matter is Saudi Arabia sent 50 million, Qatar and Kuwait sent money, Lebanon sent a team and supplies and so did Jordan. Turkey sent a rescue team. The UAE sent aid, Morocco sent aid. Did Jordan go and say that the people who went to help Haitians raised the image of Jordan? I didn't read that. I hope they didn't. It sounds really crass to use people that way. It seems like Israel wants to whitewash what it does to Palestinians. Look, I am glad Saudi donated 50 million. It's image is not worse than it has been in years, and the media didn't really cover the fact that they sent aid though ABC mentioned it. Their aid doesn't change their human rights record. I hope they didn't say the aid helps their image.
In my previous posts, I mentioned that this Haiti adventure was a PR stunt. This was reinforced by reports that Israeli officials were crying out for a new PR front, and the IDF was seeking PR opportunities on Facebook. Supporters of Israel said that I was wrong, that I was immoral for suggesting it and that I didn't know Israel. It seems that I wasn't wrong, that morality is subjective, as always, and I know Israel better than some Israelis.
Whilst the effort of the team was good, it is a disgrace that the Israeli government is using this for propaganda purposes. It cheapens the effort and the contribution.
kol hakavod le eretz yisrael
It's great that the Israeli team was there, but the claim that they had the "best hospital" in Port-au-Prince is nonsense, as is the claim that the main ones who will continue to treat the suffering will be Americans. In point of fact, there were 400 Cuban doctors serving in Haiti before the quake, and 60 more from the specially trained Henry Reeve International Medical Brigade against Disasters and Serious Epidemics joined them within hours of the quake, along with dozens of Haitians being given free medical training in Cuba (adding to the 544 Haitian doctors already in Haiti who received their free medical education in Cuba). Operating out of two major hospitals and many other clinics, the Cubans had already treated thousands of patients before the Israelis or anyone else had even arrived. Indeed, during their 15 years of work in Haiti, the Cuban doctors have attended to close to 6 million patients free of charge, including 110,390 babies delivered by and 228,238 operations.
The comments of Netanyahu, Ashkenazi and Barak put to rest any question about whether the Israeli government saw this mission primarily as a publicity stunt. They could have used this platform to discuss the still dire conditions in Haiti and encourage the Israeli public to contribute to ongoing aid efforts. Instead, they cast the Israeli team's mission as a publicity stunt for the IDF. They might do well to think how *that* looks to the world. I'm disgusted.
"09:09 Human Rights Watch: Hamas targeted Israeli civilians during Gaza war (AP)" Of course they did and no one doubts it. No one doubts that Israel targeted civilians either. But thats not what this story is about. The Israeli medical team is to be commended for their tireless efforts to save lives. Many Haitians are alive today because of the medical team and the "state of the art" field hospital they set up. I for one wish to thank them!
The Chinese were the first in Haiti not Israel. With all of you complaining about the coverage given to Israel, maybe think for a second did you even hear mention of china being there? It wasn't on my news channel! Next to arrive was US and I think Canada was soon after(Our Governor General is of Haitian decant so doesn't surprise me if it was a priority in Canada) The big difference here though is that none of the other countries leaders talk about how it should raised their countries image. Most I am sure would think that was callous and tacky. But not your wonder boy Bibi!
While I normally don't say this: Great work by the IDF. Congratulations on a job very well done.
... and he will do a mitzvah in return for the Land of Israel for giving him a second chance at life in this wonderful world. Khazak ve'Baruch Zahal!
What the israeli team did in Haiti was as great as what so many other countries did. It is a shame that people politicize such events.
Humanism and Professionalism. While other countries were equipped only with rescue equipment Israeli team came equipped with Search, Rescue and most importantly with equipment to treat people in their state of the art field hospitals!!! In just 60 years Israel advanced medically/technologically to the avangard of developing countries. No wonder that most refugees from Africa choose Israel as oppose to oppressive islamic countries...
Are these soldiers trying to clean their hand from bloods of innecoent children of Gaza??? and look as heros in Haiti??? Not All oceans of the world can clean your hands?? you are not HEROS ...You are taking advantage of the poor Haitian people as you are oppression the poor people of GAZA...
and the IDF only target hamas fighter? Ohh my god arab conspiracy!!
they way I see it Israel was working side by side with the rest of the world stop using Haiti for politic! You is their leader thank them for a good job done, If you think people forget what you are doing Occupation stalling 2 state solution just because you send IDF in Haiti will not work!!
what are you talking about there was loads on TV and in the newpapers about the Israeli effort in Haiti they were the first one's there
Jews always contribute to the societies in which they live. And because we value education and life and progress is exactly why others scapegoat their problems on us. Just imagine how much more the contribution to the world and humanity would be in medicine, technology, physics, etc., if Israel did not have to spend enormous amounts of money and time and personnel defending itself from the arab world. The contribution would be staggering....And it already is from the small nation of Israel. Now exactly what has been the arab contribution to Haiti
I mostly look at the foreign (enlish, french and german) tv-channels and try to red many internet pages of foreign newspapers. You are right. The Israeli help is not mentioned separately of any help given to Haiti. If mentioned, maybe only because the helpers were soldiers. Anyway, all help is needed and there is still a lot to do.Tank for IDF,too. The problem is, that people start to forget everything so easily at moment, when the help is still needed for the long time. But as to speech of PM. What a pity but he made all look like a "PR trick" raising the Israeli image when most of the helpers make very "silent work" and whitout asking any kind of honouring for their assistance.
Israel's image will never raise until it reconstruct all the damages made in Gaza.
Israel's image was raised over two thousand years ago when Judea and Samaria bequeathed to the world the most advanced level of morals and ethics that most of the civilized world still lives by. Toda.
Well, if I had any doubts about Bibi they have now been dispelled, the man is now officially an idiot. With that short statement he has managed to turn what was a genuine humanitarian relief contribution into nothing more than a P.R. stunt.
Israel's image was raised over two thousand years ago when Judea and Samaria bequeathed to the world the most advanced level of morals and ethics that most of the civilized world still lives by. Toda.
Good people capable of doing terrible things at the behest of governments that can't see past their own noses.
Israel's image was raised over two thousand years ago when Judea and Samaria bequeathed to the world the most advanced level of morals and ethics that most of the civilized world still lives by. Toda.
I am filled with pride when I see what Israel achieved in Haiti. Marvellous! Since the outside world doesn't recognise the good deeds what can Israel do to spread the word globally?? Well done Israel
I watch all the news bulletins on BBC and ITV and during the past fortnight did not hear any reporter mention or show the israili effort.Is it all part of the campaign to isolate Israel in the media and academic circles
This is what we are all so proud of, the combined efforts of the Israeli's to save lives.
human solidarity should transcend ours differences. Thanks and peace.
09:09 Human Rights Watch: Hamas targeted Israeli civilians during Gaza war (AP) oh my god. worldwide jewish conspiracy.