Soccer Dad

How Israel Helps the World

Karen Dunn has written an excellent article about all that Israel does for the rest of the world and laments that it doesn't get enough attention:

Humanitarian efforts began only 10 years after Israel became an independent country, when it established the Center for International Cooperation (also known as MASHAV) in 1958.

Specializing in the development of human resources, the center's mandate upholds the right of all people to live in dignity, free from poverty, with the right to food, security, health care, education, economic sustainability, gender equality, preservation of natural resources, child welfare and care for the aged. From soil cultivation programs in Kenya to computer education in Ethiopia, from medical programs in Jordan to seminars on cattle husbandry in India, Israel has helped alleviate hunger, disease and poverty in many developing countries.

And Israel rescues victims of disasters too:

Israel has provided humanitarian aid in the wake of natural disasters beyond its borders, helping disaster victims on almost every continent. In December 1988, an earthquake shook the Soviet Republic of Armenia, killing 30,000 people and leaving 50,000 homeless. Joining the international effort, Israel sent Israeli Defense Forces search and rescue and medical teams. They treated hundreds of patients and brought 61 Armenians to Haifa for special medical treatment. When a massive earthquake killed more than 15,000 people in Turkey in 1999, Israel set up a 120-bed field hospital and sent more than 100 tons of relief supplies and a 250-person search and rescue team to Turkey. The team saved 12 survivors and uncovered the bodies of 146 victims. Tireless efforts resulted in the miraculous rescue of a 3-year-old Turkish boy more than 130 hours after the earthquake struck.

This is something that really needs to be trumpeted. Indeed I have done something like that though I haven't kept it up as well as I should have. The Israel Hasbara Committee has posted some of the items I had here.
The correct URL for the Yisraela story is http://www.mfa.gov.il/mfa/go.asp?MFAH0jcp0
The URL for my site doesn't appear to be working right now.
Crossposted on Bsurot Tovot and Soccer Dad.

Posted by SoccerDad at February 19, 2004 1:16 PM