饮水思源
“When drinking water, think of its source.”
מי שעושה לך טוב
אל תשכח אותו לנצח
"Whoever does good to you – never forget him."
The Muslim Brotherhood's sophisticated use of media and messaging to shape public opinion across not just the Muslim world, but the whole world generally, intersects with narratives of victimhood, resistance and anti-Semitism. Amongst other things, it cast Jews and Western powers as forces of moral corruption and colonial oppression. They have done it so well that those bourgeoisie kids in US universities living off their dad's money who chanted "From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free" do not even understand it is an old slogan that came off the MB in the 1960's.
Today, fears of being branded Islamophobe keeps most people to the sidelines in the face of rising anti-Semitism across the world while progressive liberals, intoxicated with MB propaganda, get increasingly emboldened.
Against this backdrop, I like to share some sense of Jewish selfless generosity and responsibility as a member of our common humanity. Israel has a population of some 9.9m, of whom 7.7m are Jewish folks, the rest are mainly Arabs and other minorities. This compared to the rest of the Middle East countries with a population of some 320m. In terms of GDP, Israel's US$520 billion (2023) compares to some US$1.73 trillion to the rest of of the Middle East. Look at the population and GDP and see how Israel has reacted in times of natural disasters all over the world.
In humanitarian aid, Israel is globally active, makes frequent deployments with high-capacity rescue and medical teams. Apart from the government effort, NGO's are also actively involved including IsraAid, ZAKA (Search & Rescue/Forensic and MASHAV (Israeli Development Agency). Here is an overview of natural disasters where Israel has deployed aid teams, and how that compares with relief efforts by other Middle East countries:
State assistance:
1. Turkey:
* Earthquake (1999) - The IDF deployed search and rescue units.
* Turkey–Syria Earthquake (Feb 2023)
- Israel sent the biggest aid team amongst all countries that were there.
- Dispatched 150 IDF Home Front Command and Medical Corps personnel.
- Sent 15 Israeli Air Force cargo planes with equipment and 230 volunteers to Gaziantep,
2. Albania Earthquake (Nov 2019)
• Deployed search-and-rescue teams, engineers, and waterproof tents. • Awarded by Albanian president for rescue efforts
3. Nepal Earthquake (2015) - The IDF sent aid planes with rescue teams and equipment to establish a field hospital. It was a major rescue mission with over 250 personnel.
4. Haiti Earthquake (Jan 2010) - IDF and IsraAID set up field hospitals, treated thousands, performed surgeries, and delivered babies
5. Indonesia (Tsunami Dec 2004)
* Sent 60 tons of relief
* Deployed field teams.
6. Pakistan Kashmir Earthquake (Nov 2005) - Israeli NGOs (e.g., Flying Aid) delivered supplies to families).
7. Greece Earthquake (1999, Athens) - IDF delegation assisting search-and-rescue with heavy engineering tools.
8. India Gujarat Earthquake (Jan 2001) - IDs 100-bed field hospital; treated 1,300 injured, performed 52 surgeries, delivered 12 babies.
9. USA
* New Orleans Hurricane Katrina (Aug 2005) - Sent 80 tons of humanitarian aid via IDF medical corps.
* Florida Surfside Condo Collapse (2021) - The IDF Home Front Command sent a search & rescue team.
10. Kenya Building Collapse (Nairobi, Jan 2006) - 80-person search-and-rescue team dispatched, rescued survivors.
11. Montenegro Wildfires (July 2017) - Israel sent two planes with IDF aid teams and firefighting equipment to assist local efforts in combating the fires and evacuating affected populations.
12. Sri Langka:
* Tsunami (Dec 2004) - Sent 82 tons aid and deployed field teams.
* Floods (June 2017) - Delivered generators, medical aid, and emergency supplies.
13. Brazil Brumadinho Dam Collapse (Jan 2019) - Deployed 130-person Israeli team; recovered 35 victims.
14. Mexico earthquake (1985, 2017) - sent 71-member IDF search and rescue team, engineers, and humanitarian aid.
15. Japan Earthquake and Tsunami (2011) - Despite radiation concerns, the IDF sent a medical delegation to Kurihara, Japan, establishing a field clinic with pediatric, surgical, maternity, gynecological, and otolaryngology wards, along with an optometry department, laboratory, pharmacy, and intensive care unit.
16. Ecuador Earthquake (2016) - The IDF, alongside IsraAID, provided humanitarian aid, including medical treatment, shelter, psychological assistance, and supplies.
17. Armenia Earthquake (1988) - Israel sent an IDF relief mission, including a rescue unit with rescuers, doctors, and essential supplies for refugees.
IsraAID:
Italy Central Earthquake (Aug 2016) - 20-person IsraAID team arrived within 24 hr to support survivors.
Haiti Hurricane Matthew (Oct 2016) - IsraAID clinic support following 2010 work.
Philippines (2009) - Deployed six volunteer medics after twin typhoons
Peru (likely late‑2000s) - Sent medical emergency aid following earthquakes.
Mozambique (2019) - Assisted cyclone Idai victims with medical supplies and psychosocial support.
Papua New Guinea (2024) - * Emergency response after a major landslide.
Afghanistan (2021) - Helped evacuate vulnerable civilians to UAE and Albania after 2021 crisis
ZAKA (Search & Rescue/Forensic):
Thailand (2004–05) - Assisted post-tsunami with forensic identification.
Sri Lanka (2004–05) - Assisted post-tsunami with forensic identification.
Indonesia (2004–05) - Assisted post-tsunami with forensic identification.
Philippines (2013) - Typhoon Haiyan victim identification and recovery.
Haiti (2010) - Rescued students amid the earthquake rubble.
Japan (2011) - Search-and-rescue after earthquake/tsunami .
Nepal (2015) - Earthquake response in field recovery operations.
Brazil (2019) - Dam collapse response in Brumadinho.
Guatemala (2018) - Volcano eruption response.
USA
* New Orleans (2005) - Hurricane Katrina assistance.
* Pittsburg (2018) - Site support after synagogue shooting
India
* Tsunami (2004–05) - Assisted post-tsunami with forensic identification.
* Mumbai Terror attack (2007) - Terror recovery operations.
MASHAV (Israeli Development Agency):
* Since 1959, has delivered eye-doctor missions globally, including in the Philippines, Peru, Papua New Guinea, and Afghanistan
* Provided humanitarian development aid (housing, medical training) across 140+ countries, including Philippines, Peru, Papua New Guinea, and Afghanistan.
In the Iran-Iraq 2017 earthquake, Israel offered aid through the Red Crescent but both countries rejected the offer.
Now let's take at look at what the other Middle East countries have been contributed towards our common humanity:
Turkey
• Nepal earthquake (2015): Dispatched 65 rescuers
• Haiti earthquake (2010): Sent mobile hospital, rescue teams, 1 ton cargo & $1 million
• Albania earthquake (2019): AFAD sent 28 rescue personnel, logs & aid
• Myanmar earthquakes (2025): Turkish NGOs GEA & IHH rescued survivors, delivered aid
• Kashmir earthquake (2005): Donated $150 M, 30 aircraft load of food & field hospitals
United Arab Emirates
• Nepal (2015): Sent 88-person search-and-rescue team + supplies
• Albania (2019): Provided shelter, food, and medical shipments
• Turkey–Syria (2023): Donated $100 M, dispatched 42 flights with 840 t aid & field hospitals
Qatar - Turkey–Syria (2023): 40 aircraft, 10,000 cabins, 1,388 shipped; $46 M raised
Kuwait - Turkey–Syria (2023): $30 M pledge; 11 cargo flights carrying 500 t aid
Bahrain - Turkey–Syria (2023): Sent $3.7 M in aid, 55 t on the first plane
Saudi Arabia -
• Kashmir (2005): $133 M aid package, medical teams, tents
• Turkey–Syria (2023): 10 planes, 550 t supplies; $122 M+ public donations; UN aid convoy
Egypt - Turkey–Syria (2023): 650 t aid via cargo ship; presidential pledge
Iraq - Turkey–Syria (2023): 26 planes, 136.5 t aid + civil defense team
Jordan - Turkey–Syria (2023): 12 planes, 28 trucks, 10,000 tents
Iran
* Turkey–Syria (2023) - 12+ cargo planes, 126 rescue personnel; built two field hospitals
* Afghanistan earthquake (2023) -sent Red Crescent team, 50 rescue workers, search dogs, tents, blankets, thousands of food packages.
Palestine - Turkey–Syria (2023): Sent civil defense & medical missions
Lebanon, Oman, others - Participated in 2023 Turkey–Syria relief alongside other Arab states
In a region often overshadowed by conflict and division, Israel’s quiet yet far-reaching humanitarian efforts tell a different story — one of compassion, capability, and moral clarity. While anti-Semitic rhetoric continues to spread in parts of the world, often fueled by political agendas and historical grievances, Muslim Brotherhood propaganda and senseless sharing of falsehoolds by the ignorant, the record of Israeli organizations like IsraAID, MASHAV, and ZAKA stands in stark contrast. From the mountains of Nepal to the shores of Mozambique, and most recently in the disaster-stricken hills of Papua New Guinea, Israeli aid responders have risked their lives to aid strangers of every faith and nation. Unlike many of its regional neighbors, some of whom possess vast wealth but remain largely absent in global disaster relief, Israel has made humanitarian outreach a cornerstone of its identity. In the face of hate, these acts of selfless service gut the stereotypes and lay bare a truth too often ignored - that the Jewish state is not only a product of survival, but also a source of healing in a wounded world.
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1 comment:
I support Israel!
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