Posted on 12/27/2004 12:02:26 PM PST by anotherview
The Ministry of the Interior issued 2,000 laissez-passer documents to enable Israelis who lost their documents to return home.
Globes’ correspondent 27 Dec 04 13:17
As part of the worldwide disaster relief effort, in the wake of yesterday’s disaster in East Asia, an emergency medical team was dispatched yesterday evening to Sri Lanka, with the purpose of administering first aid on behalf of the State of Israel.
Sri Lanka, as the country hardest hit by the disaster, will receive Israeli emergency medical aid, however Israel intends to send food as well as medical supplies to the other countries hit by the quake.
An earthquake in the magnitude of 8.9 on the Richter scale struck Southeast Asia early Sunday morning. The earthquake was followed by a series of tsunami tidal waves.
The situation center of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, as well as the Israeli missions in Bangkok, New Delhi, and Bombay have been functioning on an emergency basis. Concurrently, crisis centers have been established in Phuket, and Karabai Koh-Phiphi on Thailand.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced that its situation center is available 24 hours a day at 972-2-530-3155.
The Ministry of the Interior's Population Authority today delivered 2,000 one-time laissez-passer documents to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in order to enable Israelis who have lost their documents to return home.
The Israeli Embassy in Bangkok has been instructed by the Ministry of the Interior not to charge for issuing laissez-passer documents.
Israelis who return home without their documents and who are able to prove that they were in the disaster area will be issued new passports free of charge.
The Population Authority will issue laissez-passer documents on the spot for family members seeking to leave for East Asia immediately in order to be with their relatives.
El Al Israel Airlines (TASE:ELAL) announced that it was operating its six weekly flights to Bangkok as usual, and that there was no undue pressure on its return flight schedule, and that inter-island flights within Southeast Asia were also continuing as scheduled. El Al's spokesman said that, at this stage, there was no reason to add more flights to the route.
Published by Globes [online], Israel business news - www.globes.co.il - on Monday, December 27, 2004
Jerusalem Post:
"...Foreign Ministry Director-General Ron Prosor said that Israel would dispatch $100,000 worth of medicine and food to Thailand and India, Israel Radio reported..."
You bet they wont remember this.
Neighter this:
"...On Monday afternoon, Defense Minister Shaul Mofaz asked the Israel Defense Forces to ready a medical relief team for immediate dispatch to Thailand.
The IDF is also preparing to send humanitarian aid to the region, primarily Sri Lanka. The Defense Ministry said Monday that the teams would be sent as soon as their coordination with the ministry were completed.
Mofaz offered aid of two kinds - a search and rescue team from the Home Front Command, as well as consignments of food and medicines..."
But hey, we also offered aid to Iran and they refused altlough they had 50,000 dead and altlough we have some of the finest rescue dogs (which are very needed after earthquakes) and some of the finest rescue teams.
The Jewish spirit doesnt care about politics.
If we can help we will do so.
Dollars to donuts they won't remember. I guess I'm cynical, but the USA has also helped so many places over the years when disaster strikes, and we usually get spat in the face, rarely even a "thank you." They treat us just the same as they treat Israel. Take our help and don't even say "thank you." One week from getting, help, they'll be saying the same ole same ole against both of us at the UN.
Sadly I believe you are both correct.
Some people do remember. There was an Indian family who had a baby delivered by an Israeli doctor after an earthquake. They named their child Sharon after the Prime Minister as a thank you for sending the medical team.
Governments do not remember unless it suits their political agenda. The press (outside of Israel and perhaps the U.S.) certainly ignores this.
Where's the Saudi, Egyptian, Iranian and Syrian aid to help their fellow Muslims?
You are joking, right?
Hi...IAF ThunderPilot, AiI, and Everyone...
You Wrote: "The Jewish spirit doesnt care about politics. If we can help we will do so."
I AGREE...And Thanks be unto HaShem The Holy One of ISRAEL (Blessed Is HIS Name) that our Jewish people are Generous even to our enemies.
Only Jews and Americans will lend a real and lasting Helping hand to our enemies.
May HaShem help the IDF and Medical Teams to find all of our people and bring them Home to Ha Eretz.
PRAYERS for ALL of the Victims of this horrific disaster and their Families.
Amen ~ and ~ Amen.
Isreal was also among the first countries to help India in Bhuj earthquake and Isreal's help was absolutely valuable. People of India and Sri Lanka are grateful once again to your country.
Although I cannot say the same thing about our so-called Arab "friends". It is in times like these one can see who our true friends are and I am sure our government can see that too.
Sri Lanka is pretty close to Israel.A lot of their military training has been done with Israeli help particularly anti-terrorism & VIP protection.Israel is also a big arms supplier to these folks.The 2 countries were introduced to each other by the Indian government.Sri Lanka uses Israel's embassy in New Delhi to do business with Israel.India being Israel's largest arms buyer.
That's the government NOT the people. A lot of the people are only too happy to see people like Israel and especiall Americans. They live like how conservatives lived under the Clinton Administration.
It looks as if they have already remembered.
It figures, they bit the hand that tried to help them! What a bunch of ungrateful ingrates - let them go and help themselves, we and Israel should stop wasting our time and money. Same ole, same ole. A disaster happens, the US and Israel are the first to offer aid and help, and these governments spit on us, especially at the useless UN. Let France, Russia, Germany, China, Cuba, Sudan, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Iran, and North Korea help next time there is a disaster. We'll hear nothing but crickets chirping in that case!
There is an update in the Jerusalem Post. Israel was acked to reduce it's delegation for logistical reasons but it is going. The Sri Lankan Prime Minister thanked the Israeli people and government.
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1309455/posts
complete with kitty chow too
Thanks for the update, anotherview.
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