Due to a significant security threat on the Israeli rescue and relief mission in Turkey, and following a joint situational assessment with the heads of the IDF Home Front Command and Search and Rescue Units which took place on Saturday night, United Hatzalah CEO Eli Pollack and Vice President of Operations Dov Maisel instructed the head of United Hatzalah’s rescue mission Major (res.) Yossi Cohen to end the mission and return to Israel as soon as possible.
The team quickly packed up their equipment and gear and made hasty arrangements to fly back to Israel at the earliest opportunity. Due to the lack of available planes, Dr. Miriam Adelson donated her private jet to fly the team back to Israel already on Sunday.
Maisel said: “We knew that there was a certain level of risk in sending our team to this area of Turkey, which is close to the Syrian border but we took the necessary steps in order to mitigate the threat for the sake of our lifesaving mission. Unfortunately, we have just received intelligence of a concrete and immediate threat on the Israeli delegation and we have to put the security of our personnel first. We are extremely proud of what our team has accomplished in just a few days, assisting in the rescue of 15 individuals in cooperation with the IDF Home Front Command, Israel’s Search and Rescue units, local rescue forces, and the Turkish Red Cross. I want to thank Dr. Adelson for assisting us in bringing our people back quickly and safely.”
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11 Responses
This is proof that there is absolutely no reason to help enemies. What does Israel gain from this? They will still be seen as the bad guys/oppressors and it’s not like any nation would help them if they ever needed.
Haven’t we already been taught Chessed LeUmim Chatoss? Who said they should have gone there in the first place? Since when does the Jewish State have to become the guardian of all mankind? Those who kindly donate their hard earned money to Hatzola and Zaka should not have their donations side-tracked for use on people who have their own means of assistance. Jewish donations should be reserved for use of Jewish needs WHICH IS THE INTENTION OF THE DONORS.
The rescue portion is over.
Time to get out of Dodge!!
They got the worst of all outcomes. They didn’t trust the Turkish government to protect them and the locals see they were abandoned.
And the world didn’t acknowledge it altogether!
Yaapchik: I believe around 50 teams were sent from around the world. Do they really need to single out Israel’s team for particular praise?
Don’t be desperate for the world’s attention.
Typical zionism pompous bogus pride at play:
“Kill two birds with one stone”:
1) Run to turkey to save victims, making sure that there is overwhelmingly sickening paparazzi all over to serve for PR purposes, but more so,
2) Use the (therefore proven to be) not-so-genuine minded help to cry baby, attempting to gain world sympathy: “You see, we wanted to help, but those naughty Arabs want to hurt us!” yeh yeh, like that’s what really what your intention was….
Kol hakovod to Miriam Adelson for providing the aircraft needed for a quick evacuation of the rescue team. She has continued the great work of her late husband (who was always a great supporter of EY and a wide range of mosdos) but w/o as much of the drama and political controversy.
ברוך השם
get the heck out of turkey
What you are forgetting is that every time the Israeli specialized teams get real-world experience at rescues and emergency assistance elsewhere it improves their skills for helping Israelis at — heaven forbid — emergencies in Israel.
yes, real world training and experience is by and large a good thing
however I would rather the Jewish Hatzalah members not get kidnapped or killed by Islamic Jihadists
turkey is a dangerous neighborhood, and especially that southern area of Turkey which is right next to rebel-held Syria