"Today we are all Americans":
Israel to send aid delegation to Dixie
By israelinsider staff and partners September 4, 2005
Prime Minister Ariel Sharon said Sunday that Israel will send a medical team to the U.S. this week to help victims of Hurricane Katrina.
"The United States has stood beside us in difficult days and I think it is our duty to help it with whatever we are able to help," Sharon told his Cabinet.
"I would like to send our condolences to the American people and to people in the southern US who were struck by such a severe disaster. It seems to me that the US has been caught up in one of its worst disasters ever. Last week I sent a letter to US President George Bush in which I expressed my condolences and those of the Israeli people over the disaster. I want to thank Defense Minister Shaul Mofaz and Health Minister Danny Naveh whom we turned to in order to verify what aid for the US victims could be readied within a short time. Within a few hours I received answers and thus I was able to pass on the estimates regarding the assistance that Israel could render. A Defense Ministry and Health Ministry aid delegation will leave this week in order to coordinate what may be done there.
Vice Premier Shimon Peres waxed more poetic. "Our hearts are with the citizens of Louisiana, Alabama, and Mississippi, as well as all those affected by Hurricane Katrina. In light of the great natural catastrophe that has struck these areas, today we are all Louisianans, Alabamans, Mississippians; today we are all Americans."
"We must all unite and help the families that have been impacted and hurt so tragically: families, women and children who have lost those that are dear to them, as well as those who have lost all they once had."
In the face of such human tragedy, the world is as one. In the face of such a cruel natural disaster, we must all help our fellow man revive and recover, and to rebuild his or her future."
Beyond the lip service of Israeli leaders, it is not yet clear that the United States has accepted Israel's offer for assistance. Israel has tried to make its wish to help tangible, and the Jerusalem Post reports that it has offered a field hospital and forensic experts to help identify bodies, after valuable experience identifying flood victims was gained in Thailand during last winter's tsunami. Other sources say that Israeli has offered to dispatch public health experts and tents.
One unusual offer, which the Jerusalem Post reported was raised in a Foreign Ministry meeting, was to ask the Chief Rabbinate to have special prayers recited in the country's synagogues on the Sabbath for of the victims of the hurricane.
The assessment delegation from the defense and health ministry officials are to meet with representatives from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).
Beyond genuine heartfelt concern, Israeli officials admit that they want, for diplomatic reasons, to show the American administration and public that Israel cares.
The aftermath of the hurricane will likely alter Israel's tactics in trying to win some $2.2 billion in disengagement related aid to develop the Negev and the Galilee, after weeks of talks on the aid package. An unnamed official in Jerusalem told the Jerusalem Post that Israel will now have to take into consideration the US domestic situation -- as well as US President George W. Bush's new political problems -- before formally asking for the assistance.
"Now is obviously not the time to go to Washington to talk about this," one official said. "It is too early to tell how this will effect us, but there will obviously be ramifications, such as how this will negatively impact Bush."
Chabad his the ground running
Jewish organizations were also organizing fundraising and physical help. At the forefront was the Chabad organization, which has proven the most active on the ground, mobilizing its network of emissaries from all over the southern region. Rabbi Chaim Lazaroff of Chabad in Houston, was among the first people to offer help in organizing relief efforts at the Astrodome, where thousands of New Orleans residents were brought last week, the Jerusalem Post reported.
"We went immediately to the Astrodome, even before FEMA and the Red Cross were there," he said on Friday. "We helped them set up cots and bedding and clothing We're trying to help them in any way we can. We've tried our best to coordinate with the other organizations; we encouraged them to start a registry of refugees/evacuees."
"We are overwhelmed here. I've been handling calls the entire day, from evacuees and from people who want to help," said Lazaroff, as quoted in the Post. "We've set up a database for food, housing, clothing One man whose mother died asked for help in getting her out of New Orleans and buried.
"People here have opened up their hearts," added Lazaroff, "taking people in and telling them they can stay indefinitely. We've opened up the day school for free to take in children from the area. We are trying to take care of them educationally and psychologically We need to get people to come to the realization that they're not going back to New Orleans any time soon."
To donate to the Jewish Hurricane Relief Fund sponsored by Chabad, click here.
To donate to Israeli families expelled from their homes by the Sharon-Peres government, click here.
� 2001-2004 Koret Communications Ltd. All rights reserved.
http://blogs.salon.com/0003494/2005/09/07.html
Israel to send aid delegation to Dixie
By israelinsider staff and partners September 4, 2005
Prime Minister Ariel Sharon said Sunday that Israel will send a medical team to the U.S. this week to help victims of Hurricane Katrina.
"The United States has stood beside us in difficult days and I think it is our duty to help it with whatever we are able to help," Sharon told his Cabinet.
"I would like to send our condolences to the American people and to people in the southern US who were struck by such a severe disaster. It seems to me that the US has been caught up in one of its worst disasters ever. Last week I sent a letter to US President George Bush in which I expressed my condolences and those of the Israeli people over the disaster. I want to thank Defense Minister Shaul Mofaz and Health Minister Danny Naveh whom we turned to in order to verify what aid for the US victims could be readied within a short time. Within a few hours I received answers and thus I was able to pass on the estimates regarding the assistance that Israel could render. A Defense Ministry and Health Ministry aid delegation will leave this week in order to coordinate what may be done there.
Vice Premier Shimon Peres waxed more poetic. "Our hearts are with the citizens of Louisiana, Alabama, and Mississippi, as well as all those affected by Hurricane Katrina. In light of the great natural catastrophe that has struck these areas, today we are all Louisianans, Alabamans, Mississippians; today we are all Americans."
"We must all unite and help the families that have been impacted and hurt so tragically: families, women and children who have lost those that are dear to them, as well as those who have lost all they once had."
In the face of such human tragedy, the world is as one. In the face of such a cruel natural disaster, we must all help our fellow man revive and recover, and to rebuild his or her future."
Beyond the lip service of Israeli leaders, it is not yet clear that the United States has accepted Israel's offer for assistance. Israel has tried to make its wish to help tangible, and the Jerusalem Post reports that it has offered a field hospital and forensic experts to help identify bodies, after valuable experience identifying flood victims was gained in Thailand during last winter's tsunami. Other sources say that Israeli has offered to dispatch public health experts and tents.
One unusual offer, which the Jerusalem Post reported was raised in a Foreign Ministry meeting, was to ask the Chief Rabbinate to have special prayers recited in the country's synagogues on the Sabbath for of the victims of the hurricane.
The assessment delegation from the defense and health ministry officials are to meet with representatives from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).
Beyond genuine heartfelt concern, Israeli officials admit that they want, for diplomatic reasons, to show the American administration and public that Israel cares.
The aftermath of the hurricane will likely alter Israel's tactics in trying to win some $2.2 billion in disengagement related aid to develop the Negev and the Galilee, after weeks of talks on the aid package. An unnamed official in Jerusalem told the Jerusalem Post that Israel will now have to take into consideration the US domestic situation -- as well as US President George W. Bush's new political problems -- before formally asking for the assistance.
"Now is obviously not the time to go to Washington to talk about this," one official said. "It is too early to tell how this will effect us, but there will obviously be ramifications, such as how this will negatively impact Bush."
Chabad his the ground running
Jewish organizations were also organizing fundraising and physical help. At the forefront was the Chabad organization, which has proven the most active on the ground, mobilizing its network of emissaries from all over the southern region. Rabbi Chaim Lazaroff of Chabad in Houston, was among the first people to offer help in organizing relief efforts at the Astrodome, where thousands of New Orleans residents were brought last week, the Jerusalem Post reported.
"We went immediately to the Astrodome, even before FEMA and the Red Cross were there," he said on Friday. "We helped them set up cots and bedding and clothing We're trying to help them in any way we can. We've tried our best to coordinate with the other organizations; we encouraged them to start a registry of refugees/evacuees."
"We are overwhelmed here. I've been handling calls the entire day, from evacuees and from people who want to help," said Lazaroff, as quoted in the Post. "We've set up a database for food, housing, clothing One man whose mother died asked for help in getting her out of New Orleans and buried.
"People here have opened up their hearts," added Lazaroff, "taking people in and telling them they can stay indefinitely. We've opened up the day school for free to take in children from the area. We are trying to take care of them educationally and psychologically We need to get people to come to the realization that they're not going back to New Orleans any time soon."
To donate to the Jewish Hurricane Relief Fund sponsored by Chabad, click here.
To donate to Israeli families expelled from their homes by the Sharon-Peres government, click here.
� 2001-2004 Koret Communications Ltd. All rights reserved.
http://blogs.salon.com/0003494
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