"because there were IDF personel coming with the help."
I got lambasted for mentioning that the Sri Lankan authorities believed there may have been spies within the IDF personnel. I did not make this up and I did not invent this. It was stated so by Sri Lankan governmental officials. If anyone can help me find the source, I'll be very grateful. In the meantime, I'll continue to search for this piece, which I'm sure I read earlier today.
I'll help you. The reason from your cited source, alJazeera, who I will state has no pro-Israel bias and would be glad to invent a spying theory if they thought anyone would believe it is. For spying theories, which I've no doubt you can find, you might try Liberty Forum, I'm not going to bother linking from there
Sri Lanka rejects Israel’s rescue team
"We are not opposed to a plane loaded with medical supplies, food and blankets that will be accompanied by a medical team comprised of 50 IDF people, as the Israeli Foreign Ministry requested in a letter," the Sri Lankan military secretary said in the notice.
Meanwhile, Sri Lankan Ambassador, Tissa Wijeratne, told reporters: "All our missions have been instructed to accept only supplies as we have been swamped with rescue teams from all over the world".
The aid delegation that had been set to leave for Sri Lanka on Tuesday included medical teams and IDF representatives, who were supposed to provide humanitarian aide to the devastated country and help other organisations in search-and-rescue operations.
"Sri Lanka has asked for only supplies and not for the rescue team and we are extending the same", an IDF spokesperson said. However, a far smaller team, headed by four doctors from Jerusalem's Hadassah University Hospital, landed in Sri Lanka on Monday night. The Israeli team was carrying medicine and baby food.
The doctors - who specialize in rescue operations, trauma and pediatrics – asked Israel to send a larger team, such as the one Sri Lanka rejected.
"We will advise Israel and the Foreign Ministry... to send something more massive," said Dr. Avi Rivkind, director of Hadassah's trauma unit.
Israel, however, is sending food and medicine and other supplies to Sri Lanka, including 10,000 blankets, tents, nylon sheeting and water containers.
On Tuesday, the Israeli humanitarian organization Latet said that it was sending a separate aid package on Tuesday. It filled a jumbo jet with about 18 tons of supplies worth $50,000, at Sri Lanka's request. It also said it was considering sending additional supplies in sometime soon.
In Sri Lanka, the death toll from the tsunami had risen to about 19,000 people, including about 200 foreigners.
Daya Ratnayake, Sri Lankan military spokesman said that nearly 1.5 million people had been displaced, about 7.5% of Sri Lanka's population.
So far 70,000 people were 11 South Asian countries on Sunday.
No, you were lambasted for saying that, when the Sri Lankan officials refused IDF personnel, that Israel then refused to send any aid whatsoever -- a demonstrable falsehood.
Sorry you got lambasted for mentioning this thing about spies. I hope you or someone else can find this re Sri Lankan gov't. Have you tried googling it?
You have to remember that many here are touchy about this.
I take it as a 'given' that spies will be part of any package {whether military or not} sent to help...that's including us. Seems to me it's nothing to be concerned about.