1. Rajiv Singh said:

L'Osservatore Romano has its web site with an email link to write to their editor. I have already done so. ornet@ossrom.va

2. Tony said:

Israel gets more Shermans and Pattons (as well as Caterpillars!) precisely because it acts with compassion when the situation arises. You seem to be looking for a direct "quid pro quo" in cases of relief assistance. This may be asking too much in the complex field of Middle Eastern (and European!) politics - particularly where Jew-hatred is the central theme.

Whilst the government of Turkey seems to have a short memory, its precarious relationship with the US also carries the mark of its more recent cold shoulder to Israel (as well as its disgraceful refusal, in 2003, to allow Coalition troops access to Iraq). Iran also refused Israeli assistance in a recent devastating earthquake. The mullahs will regret putting (warped) politics above the welfare of Iranians, when democracy comes to Iran - as, I believe, it will surely come. The latest rebuff from Sri Lanka and the outrageous slap from the Vatican's newspaper will rebound on them - and serve to maintain Israel's track record as an honest broker and a mensch.

Furthermore, it is the responsibility of Jews everywhere to act as a light to the peoples of the world. Whether for PR, for the rescue of Israeli citizens or simply for tzedakah, Israel has again stood up and behaved honourably.

3. TheLoneCabbage said:

Tony: We are under no obligation to help anyone, untill we have our own issues solved. Charity starts at home, then community, then country, then world. We are certainly under to compulsion to assist those who would drag us under the tide, given the chance.

"Light unto the world" is not done by showing how much better goyim we can be than the goyim them selves. Compassion and propper decission is decided by halacha first, and when we do that we shine.

At the moment, we have a gov't planning to make thousands more families homless right here.

(BTW: Shermans and Pattons reffered to generals not tanks)

4. george said:

I find the Sri Lankan refusal puzzling, since it has only a small proprtion of muslims.
The Israeli GOV should protest to the Vatican regarding these untruthes.

5. BobW said:

Why did any public statement come from the IDF - or even MOD?

If Colombo has no diplomatic relations with Israel could not the medical supplies be transferred sotto voce via a third country? Could not Israel field a medical team of non Israeli citizens/residents to go to Sri Lanka?

After the aid offer, does Israel now have diplomatic relations with Colombo?

What was the mission objective? Any remote chance Israel can send flu vaccine to the USA?

Kol tuv,

BobW

6. Tony said:

TLC: I agree, there's no "obligation" to assist others - beyond the "obligation" of tzedakah. Blankets and medicines for tsunami victims aren't being provided at the direct expense of the welfare of the 8,000 Jews of Gaza.

As for the pun - Israel still gains more, decisive generals (or tanks!) through her compassion for others at their time of need, than by isolating herself from the tragedies of peoples other than her own.

7. Alex M said:

How about Israel transfering the goods and supplies to the Vatican so they could get them there?

8. AV said:

Tony:
I must say, I wanted to comment on Joseph's article, but I agreed with it too much to say anything beyond "good job" (and hence I didn't). But you comments made me think, and just reaffirmed my belief in Israel's need for independence from the rest of the world. The tzedakah that Israel provides for the rest of the world is not doing much good for itself. Remember that in the time of the First and Second Temples, Jews were expected to give tzedakah at the midash, one shekel from every person - that was a census as well as an expression of equality. Israel has been doing much more than it can afford or needs to afford for countries that do not care for Israel's existence.
Now, I will not negate that some countries have come up for Israel, but these are few and far between. One would be India, who just yesterday (or maybe two days ago) announced that IMI will be the main contractor on a 140mil USD chemical plant contract in India. This however is an anomoly. The last foreign adventure of this nature was again with India and of all countries Georgia, where IMI again was involved (the Tavor rifle dealings).
So all in all, Israelis do not receive equal treatment by the players in the field and I believe it is a mitzvah to care for your family, so rather than working for "world peace" Israel should work for internal calm first. No reason to give help where help is not wanted and no reason to give help from where only hatred can eminate. As for the supposed track record Israel is building, I can only refer you to publications in the US (where Israel supposedly does not have to prove a track record) that explicitly argue against Israel's existence. No track record can save Israel, only decisive military actions.

However, I did find one flaw in the argument you present Joseph, and I wish to address it here. Your argument that Israel needs "more Shermans, more Pattons" is a valid one, but it is based on people. And please remember who was the general in control of the South Israeli forces in 1973, none other than the of late affectionally nicknamed Sharon Bonoparte. There needs to be more than just a Sherman or a Patton, there needs to be a conviction - people change, ideologies change, realities do not. That statement needs an addendum - Israel needs a strong military leadership that does not come under the control of a weak Prime Minister (Golda Meir in '73) or Minister of Defense (Moshe Dayan). Israel needs another Haim Bar Lev, and it needs to invest in such a man more than it did in the Bar Lev Line.

That is all.
Yom tov,
AlexV

9. elder_of_ziyon said:

My argument the other day was not primarily towards the PR benefits, but the JPost story doesn't "utterly demolish" that argument anyway. PR works on many levels and the fact that Israel did offer to help Sri Lanka makes Israel look good and the Vatican paper look idiotic worldwide. That is good PR, any way you look at it. (Imagine how bad the PR would be if L'Osservatore Romano was right!

But I think the fundamental problem is JAN's perception of the strength of doing the right thing. It appears, if I may be so chutzpahdik as to make this assumption, that you are equating sending help to disaster victims with bleeding-heart liberalism. This is completely false. Israel is, IMHO, far and away the most moral country in the world today. That morality comes from its history of unapologetically defending her citizens (pre-Oslo, unfortunately) as well as its history of choosing morality over PR. Taking in the Vietnamese "boat people", saving the Ethiopian Jews, bombing the Osirak reactor, kidnapping and trying Eichmann were all moral decisions, often against conventional wisdom and international law. This is Israel's greatest strength. Screw the Vatican, screw the UN, screw the EU, screw politics - Israel must continue to do the moral and right things no matter what they say, and in spite of what they say, whether it is at home or abroad. This is why the Gaza pullout is so upsetting - it is not a moral decision.

Jew-haters will hate Israel no matter what. So what? Israel should be basing her decisions on morality, period. It is reasonable to ask whether it is more moral to help Sri Lankans or Israelis with limited funds, certainly, just as it is reasonable for a household to decide how much to give to tzedaka. In the wake of the magnitude of this disaster, I think it is a no-brainer that Israel should contribute - this is a "chessed shel emet", which is the highest form of chessed.

There is no contradiction between helping out others and being strong. On the contrary, they are two sides of the same coin. There is no higher morality than defending yourself and your people, but morality includes other actions as well.

Israel's rebirth and existence today cannot be considered anything less than a miracle. Jews are meant to be a "light unto nations" - whether the nations can see it or not. I am afraid that if Israel starts to act like the other nations on this planet, G-d may start treating her as such - and she won't survive long that way. The scary thing is, things that Sharon is doing is reflecting a warped sense of realpolitik more than morality.

10. Jerusalem Posts said:

When one in five Israeli children is living below the poverty line, it's important that Israel does aid it's own...

Tsadaka should only come when the charity at home is taken care of and Israel's own house is in order.

In the meantime, the French are sending aid to the tune of $146,000 and no-one's mentioned it - not even the Vatican! France is a relatively wealthy country compared to Israel, but it's not know for giving aid... and the UK has pledged $1 million (about the same as Israel)!

Something's very wrong in the equation when the wealthy countries (except the US, Japan and Australia) are witholding aid (because the Pacific has no oil), but can give billions to the Palestinians --- and at the same time, criticise Israel for not doing anything BECAUSE the mainstream media refuse to mention Israel's support!!!

11. BroSteve said:

Just to inform everyone....Jews are required, by their religion, to perform what we call "mitzvahs" every day....
at least 1 per day. A "mitzvah" is an act of goodness...it can be small or large, depending on
the circumstances. And this is an act that is given without the thought of a "thank you"...
In other words, this is an unconditional act...requiring no payback or recognition. But it is
our (Jews) job to perform at least one of these a day. Given that,I don't understand where
the Vadican is coming from....

BroSteve

12. G. said:

Israel gets rebuked for offering assistance and the US is called "cheap"...once again our two nations are scorned and ridiculed for caring for the plight of those who need help.
I think that we, the US and Israel, have to maintain the high ground and it seems that we'll be handing out assistance with one hand and pulling the knives out of our backs with the other for sometime to come...all the while believing and hoping that the message of hope and peace will triumph.
The Vatican response has me very baffled to say the least!

13. Eyal said:

Gor fairness' sake, it should be pointed out that apparently Sri Lanka refused the Israeli delegation for logistical reasons - they did accept a smaller delegation of medical and IDF personnel

14. matt said:

I have read these posts.I see some very thin skins out there.If compasson is your first emotion you will pass it on and walk away with a true feeling of comassion for others.

15. sarah said:

First time I've gone online re: tsunami situation. First I have heard of an issue with Israel not donating and am appalled at anyone suggessting that Israel's obligation is to take care of its own people.
No wonder the Chosen People have been despised throughout history; selfishness is simply bad karma.
I am an American who has watched helplessly as the plight of these people is broadcast on CNN.
That there would be politics on this is shocking!!! And, as an American, I would remind the Jews that much of what they consider theirs is coming from the US.
Sarah