Important information from the Jewish Council for Public Affairs
and the
Baltimore Jewish Council
Israel and its Role in Assisting with the Tsunami Disaster
Background
Immediately upon learning of the Tsunami tragedy in South Asia , Israel prepared a foreign aid delegation that included a medical team with equipment, food and water, and medical supplies accompanied by two Israel Defense Forces officers. The Sri Lankan government rejected Israel ’s offer because the delegation included individuals serving in the Israeli military. Until an agreement was reached, the Israeli aid was delayed.
Pursuant to the agreement, Israel sent a significant amount of humanitarian aid to Sri Lanka on Wednesday, December 29, 2004 . More than 80 tons of much needed supplies were shipped including; 10,000 blankets, 3,680 liters of mineral water, 12 tons of food, 17.5 tons of baby food, and more than nine tons of medicine and additional materials including generators, tents, beds and mattresses.
Israel sent Thailand a team of rescue and recovery officials, forensic experts, and other goods on Monday, December 27 th. The Israeli Defense Force has offered assistance to India , and Israeli non-governmental humanitarian organizations such as LaTet and ISRAid have dispatched aid throughout South Asia .
Despite this goodwill, the official newspaper of the Vatican , L'Osservatore Romano ran an article replete with factual errors and inflammatory, unjust criticism of the Jewish State. The article erroneously claimed that Israel declined to send aid to the victims of the Tsunami in Sri Lanka , maligning Israel as a nation that “is too often preoccupied with making war” and that Israel needed a “radical and dramatic change of perspective.” It concluded that, while this “should be a time for unconditional solidarity,” Israel ’s leaders are governed by a “small-minded approach that restricts their horizons.” Action Recommendations
Start or join in local community efforts to aid the victims of the Tsunami disaster, joining the ranks of the US , Israel , and the rest of the international community.
Write op-ed pieces and letters to the editor, commending all those who participated in the humanitarian efforts, including Israel .
Write letters to the editor of L'Osservatore Romano (ornet@ossrom.va) praising the Israeli actions and criticizing the article for publishing inaccurate information and using it to slander Israel .
These brief talking points should be helpful in your communications on this issue.
Talking Points: Israel ’s Efforts to Assist Sri Lanka
- Israel sent humanitarian aid out of goodwill and international solidarity to Sri Lanka, despite a lack of diplomatic relations.
- Israel holds a historical precedent for assisting those struck by humanitarian crises dating back to 1953, five years after the creation of the state. Most recently, Israel sent aid to Darfur victims in Sudan , an Arab country in which it also has no diplomatic relations.
- Included in this aid package is; 10,000 blankets, 3,680 liters of mineral water, 12 tons of food, 17.5 tons of baby food, and more than nine tons of medicine, and additional supplies such as generators, tents, beds and mattresses.
- After the Sri Lankan government denied Israel’s efforts to send humanitarian aid, an agreement was struck between Israel and Sri Lanka allowing Israel to provide a medical team and supplies.
- In addition, Magen David Adom in coordination with the International Red Cross, has sent some $100,000 worth of medical supplies to aid victims in Sri Lanka
- The Israeli Foreign Ministry’s situation centers, as well as its missions in Bangkok , New Dehli, and Bombay , have been operating on an emergency basis since Monday, December 27th.
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