At the opening of the weekly cabinet meeting on Sunday, Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu used the photo-op to release a number of statements to the press, regarding Israel’s response to the tragic earthquake that struck Haiti.
“I would like to say a few words about the horrific tragedy that took place in Haiti. What happened there is a large-scale disaster of very great proportions. The lack of protective measures only deepened the tragedy. I think that it is our obligation, as the State of Israel, as the state of the Jewish People, to mobilize immediately – and this we have done. As soon as I learned of the dimensions of the disaster, I ordered that a team be dispatched. It left with the speed characteristic of the IDF, in coordination with the Foreign Ministry.
“The defense establishment sent a team which has begun to work and is already saving lives. It is a field hospital with doctors, x-ray machines and other vital pieces of equipment that are in short supply in Haiti. I think that this is in the best tradition of the Jewish People; this is the true covenant of the State of Israel and the Jewish People.
“This follows operations we have carried out in Kenya and Turkey; despite being a small country, we have responded with a big heart. The fact is, I know, that this was an expression of our Jewish heritage and the Jewish ethic of helping one’s fellow. I hope that the team saves lives and that Haiti succeeds in recovering from this awful tragedy.
“Tomorrow, I and several ministers, including Foreign Minister Lieberman and Defense Minister Ehud Bark, will be leaving for Germany. We will hold annual discussions, which take place alternatively here and in Germany. Now it is Germany’s turn and we will go there. We ascribe great importance to our good relations with Germany. They have major consequences for the Israeli economy, our diplomatic struggle around the world and for the security of Israel.”
Ironically, the statements come on the heels of last week’s diplomatic row, in essence, a situation that has existed with varying levels of animosity since Operation Cast Lead. Turkey wishes to maintain diplomatic and economic ties with Israel while calling on the United Nations to charge Jerusalem with “war crimes” and “crimes against humanity”.
In the meantime, IDF rescuers and medical staff continue to operate in Haiti, saving lives and offering much assistance wherever possible. One such area, perhaps less visible to the general public are the experts from the IDF communications corps who arrived with rescue forces, establishing a communications network, including internet connectivity, permitting doctors nurse, medics, rescue workers and members of the international media to benefit from the link, which was the first that became operational following the quake which literally paralyzed Haiti.
(Yechiel Spira – YWN Israel)
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One Response
“I think that this is in the best tradition of the Jewish People; this is the true covenant of the State of Israel and the Jewish People.”
With all due respect to Mr. Netanyahu and his political position and to the work his citizens are doing in Haiti, I don’t think any secular politician in Israel can claim to have an inkling of what the “true covenant of the Jewish people” is, not to mention that the avowedly secular State of Israel should not be in the same sentence as anything referring to the Jewish People and its religion.
How about “Viatem tihyu li mamleches kohanim vigoy kadosh” and “Ki heim chayeinu viorech yameinu” referring, of course, to our holy Torah? How about, say Shabbos? That sounds more like the eternal covenant to which he refers to.