A disproportionate response?

Pickwick

Thank you Melanie. I have not heard about this in any BBC bulletins. Actually, I assumed that Israel's offer of help have already been rejected.

Dixon

Nice one! Plus Iran has donated less aid than Wal-Mart!

No Muslim nation has donated more than $100,000.

Brian Moshe

Thank you for this, Melanie.

I have been watching C4 TV News the last few evenings and there hasn't been a word uttered about the Israeli response from Jon Snow, Sarah Smith, Jonathan Rugman or any of the various UN or other people they have interviewed.

Shaun Pilkington

"Israel sent a team of 220 aid workers. Israel has a population of six million. The population of Britain is 60 million. I’d say that was a disproportionate Israeli response, wouldn’t you?"

It would be terribly snide to suggest that was their modus operandi per se! I did note that the French said that it looked like the US was invading - it's also true that US Marines are not trained peacekeepers!

John G

I am sure the BBC will find some way of attacking Israel for this wholly disproportionate response.

Jane

Richard Littlejohn has highlighted the spite of The Guardian over this issue this week:

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/debate/article-1244274/When-comes-asylum-lunatics-really-taken-over.html

He really is on form this week. His essay on Obama was a shift of gear from the usual satire and a superb summary of his presidency so far:

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/debate/article-1243622/RICHARD-LITTLEJOHN-I-said-Obama-turn-Americas-Tony-Blair--just-vacuous-showman-This-week-U-S-voters-agree.html

Dee Ranged

As usual Melanie - Bang on!

Matt Pryor

Israel is a small country with a big heart. Much admiration and respect to the Jewish state from this Englishman.

On YouTube there is loads of footage of IDF search and rescue teams in Haiti and field hospital staff. They have also delivered three babies that I know of, one of which has been named "Israel".

People that hadn't heard of any of this should try Twitter instead of the BBC.

Larry in Tel Aviv

Haiti will still vote against Israel in the UN General Assembly just like it always has.

Liz

Surely it behoves Israel to send assistance. After all they caused the earthquake, didn't they?

Andre

What has Saudi Arabia down so far in Haiti?

Dan S.

Mr. Pilkington mentions the Marine Corps' lack of experience in peacekeeping operations. Yet if one looks at the long history of the Corps, they have often been sent to aid in reducing civil unrest.

Please keep in mind that in this operation, the US military is subordinate to the US State Department, which is taking the lead, albeit not too well, in Haiti.

The Marine Corps and its expeditionary forces are fully capable of providing assistance in civil actions. Quite frankly, Marine friends from Camp Lejeune have been frustrated by civilian US authorities, who seem to be experts at dithering and not emergency relief.

Baron

The BBC reporting yesterday devoted minutes to Bill Clinton, a UN envoy, prancing around and dispersing pearls of clichéd wisdom to the world. How could anyone expect the corporation to cover the stellar work of the Israeli ‘s emergency hospital, then?

Woody

Hang on, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and the other oil-rich sheikdoms will be there as soon as they can raise the cash and kind.

d1carter

Thank you Mel, the UN is indeed useless. I pray for the people of Haiti and I will donate until it hurts.

Ian G

So it looks like the International Jewish Conspiracy is taking over Haiti..? Seriously though, what if the Yanks are taking over Haiti? The French just have a guilty conscience. The place is a basket-case. Someone has to sort the place out. Which leads us to Zimbabwe, another chaotic basket-case. Perhaps Israel could show us the way there as well.

Chris

They have had my vote!

Cameron W

A stand up country for sure. Thanks for the story Melanie.
I hope they will get the good press they fully deserve on this.

Stuart Cunliffe

Every credit to Israel. May God bless them.

I just love Melanie Phillips' remark about the disproportionate Israeli response.

Ros

Actually Dominic Waghorn at Sky News did a piece on this the other day. Unusual for him, as he is usually the spokesman for the 'poor downtrodden Palestinians.' BBC World also mentioned the Israeli response but there's been nothing like the Geraldo piece at Fox News or even the long one at CNN. It's a pity that the newsprint has hardly mentioned anything of the Israeli largesse.

It's quite amazing that Israel was able to send so much aid and so many people quite so quickly. They had the presence of mind to send a fully operational field hospital, with all the state of the art equipment that was needed, unlike the other aid organisations who appear to be running around like headless chickens, fearful of the 'security scares.' I read of a Belgian medical force who evacuated their base because of fears for their safety - in the middle of caring for the dying -and leaving the poor Haitians to continue to fend for themselves.

I also read a spiteful comment that the only reason why the Israelis were able to achieve so much in Haiti so quickly was because 'the Americans allowed them to' while obstructing other aid organisations.

Graeme

I have just this minute been on the BBC's website and found a mere two mentions of the word Israel in connection with Haiti. I wonder why? I wonder if a new incoming Conservative Government will force the BBC to publish the Balin report?

Graeme

My apologies everyone. I have found THREE references to Israel in connection with Haiti on two web pages and not just the two mentioned in my first post. Check it out for yourselves

Archie

Yes indeed, Miss Phillips; and - to my absolute astonishment - our very own al-Beebeera World News on the weekend actually covered the Israeli rescue effort without so much as a sneer! I imagine there'll be trouble over that!

Augustus

This reveals the essence of Israel's character: Every person's life is important!

JohnB

Yes Shaun, you could not get a better description of your comments than 'snide'.

Raymond in DC

Andre asks, "What has Saudi Arabia down so far in Haiti?" According to one report, they sent "condolences". Qatar and Morocco reportedly have "pledged" $1 Million each. Egypt, Turkey and Jordan have small teams on site. That's about it from the Arab and Muslim nations.

Lots of western media seem averse to putting out any positive story about Israel. Only after seven days did NBC Nightly News finally mention Israel's presence in Haiti, with a nice piece about their hospital.

Here's an interesting piece about two long-time Jewish residents who helped the IDF mission from behind the scenes:
http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1263147932263&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull

No doubt part of that world-wide Jewish conspiracy... Well done, Israel.

Kiran

I have been very surprised that the news media have not been trying to speak to the UN officials in charge of the operation and asking them why they are failing so badly. Every news report shows us 'the scale of the disaster' (yet again) and mentions that the aid is not getting to those who most need it. I have yet to see a news item where the UN bods are confronted by a reporter asking some tough questions. Do the UN officials have a saintly aura which protects them from criticism or do they just 'unavailable for comment'.

Michael Medved

Melanie,
The Israeli population is 7,5 million people, not 6 million as you claim. Other than that, a very nice piece.

R. Green

It should be noted, that even GAZA has yet to see the large sums of aid-money that Arab states pledged following last year's war.

Alex Bensky

Of course, a few years back there was a terrible earthquake in Iran. The Israelis promptly offered help and the Iranian government rejected it, showing what they really care about.

So far the Saudis, who are swimming in money, have offered condolences and...sympathy.

Yes, indeed, Israel's response has been disproportionate and yet again we see that when it comes to Israel "disproportionate" is a synonym for "effective."

R Whitehand

Well written Melanie. It's a pity the main media outlets aren't as accurate in their reporting as you are. For instance I watched four tv news channels last night just get a sense of balance, all were reporting from Haiti, and not one of them mentioned the Iraeli effort. They all said that no aid was getting through.
I despair!
This incident is yet another reason why main tv news is not worth watching for the real stories. It is shallow, partisan, sentimental, and generally anti-US and anti-Israel.
Keep up the reports.

Wolf

I read that the Brits sent 8 volunteers, alongside 64 firemen. Are you certain Britain's muslim population permitted this overwhelming help?

logdon

And all we can do is accept the blatant twisting of truth by deliberate absence of al-Beeb in fuming, silent resignation?

Thank god for the internet with it's rumbustious fallacy busting exuberance for a bit of clear blue light.

Melanie is joined in the noble quest by Pajamas, Atlas Shrugs, Front Page and many other so called ‘right wing’ sites who time after time strike fear into those dark and dirty little places where democracy is merely a word to be bandied around like an unearned badge of honour.

The left is scuppered. Hoisted on its own petard of lying, cheating and fraudulent behaviour.

It’s taken America a mere year to wise up to what has agonised our core of the enlightened for over a decade. Yet according to many smart arses out their they’re the dumb cretins.

Jew bashing. America bashing. It’s all they know yet who steps up to the plate, time after time?

Certainly not Chavez or Saudi. And where’s the Hamas tunneling expert emergency aid team? (Don’t laugh but just imagine what they’d look like goose stepping down the tarmac in their kefiyas, ski masks and toting the obligatory AK’s and RPG’s?)

Too busy digging their tunnels back home I guess.

logdon

From Honest Reporting

http://www.honestreporting.com/articles/45884734/critiques/new/Israel_Bringing_Hope_Amidst_Haitis_Rubble.asp

Israel: Bringing Hope Amidst Haiti's Rubble

Some of the positive stories emerging from Israel's remarkable aid effort.

Many of you have asked for sources of information on Israel's role in aiding the victims of Haiti's devastating earthquake. While Israel is one of many nations operating in Haiti, the IDF's field hospital and search and rescue team have caught the attention of some media outlets. Here are just some of the positive stories emerging from Haiti's tragedy:

*
Fox News (17Jan): Israeli doctors in Haiti
*
Sky News (17 Jan): Sky reporter spends a day in the rubble with Israeli rescue team
*
IBA News (17 Jan): Israeli rescue team in Haiti
*
LA Times (17 Jan): Israel: Sending soldiers of peace to Haiti
*
CBS News (18 Jan): Israeli IDF hospital the "Rolls Royce" of medicine in Haiti
*
ABC News (18 Jan): Miracle birth amid Haiti's rubble
*
WABC News (18 Jan): Brother of Queens NY resident rescued from rubble by Israeli rescue team
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U.N. MINUSTAH (Jan 18): Haiti: Israeli field hospital working around the clock
*
CNN report (18 Jan): Patients desperate for better medical care

Positive coverage of Israel is all too rare these days. Please forward these stories to your friends and family and post them on social networking sites.

HonestReporting sends its condolences to the people of Haiti in this terrible time.

Other Sources for Information

*
Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs
*
IDF Spokesperson's Unit YouTube Channel
*
Twitter updates of IDF Medical and Rescue Team in Haiti
*
Facebook - Israel Humanitarian Aid

Peter

The BBC have totally ignored this as have ITV and Sky.All are too busy reminding everyone about the 'disproportionate' response in Gaza.Just imagine the coverage if any Arab country had sent a hospital.In fact the impoverished Saudis have managed to send a note of sympathy.Praise the Lord.

Steve Blowers

I understand that Saudi Arabia has sent a letter of condolence to the Haitian government. Probably all that such an impoverished (morally) country could do!

Davod

WRT to the US and hospitals. That is why we have an aircraft carrier, hospital ships, and lot of aeroplanes. The aircraft are operating non-stop, the aircaft carrier has arrievd and I believe the hospital ship arrives tomorrow.

It is my understanding the US effort is being led by the State department and it is deferring to The UN and Haiti. It is a pity the US didn't let the military run with the initial response, as happened during the response to the Tsunami.

Today I read that the soldiers had been handing out bottled water and the one day ration packs. Today they only received water. Someone, presumably State/UN decided the troops shouldn't be handing out the food. Unbelievable.

***

1.
Bless the President for having rescue teams in the air almost immediately. That was President Olafur Grimsson of Iceland. On Wednesday, the AP reported that the President of the United States promised, "The initial contingent of 2,000 Marines could be deployed to the quake-ravaged country within the next few days." "In a few days," Mr. Obama?
2.
There's no such thing as a 'natural' disaster. 200,000 Haitians have been slaughtered by slum housing and IMF "austerity" plans.
3.
A friend of mine called. Do I know a journalist who could get medicine to her father? And she added, trying to hold her voice together, "My sister, she's under the rubble. Is anyone going who can help, anyone?" Should I tell her, "Obama will have Marines there in 'a few days'"?
4.
China deployed rescuers with sniffer dogs within 48 hours. China, Mr. President. China: 8,000 miles distant. Miami: 700 miles close. US bases in Puerto Rico: right there.
5.
Obama's Defense Secretary Robert Gates said, "I don't know how this government could have responded faster or more comprehensively than it has." We know Gates doesn't know.
6.
From my own work in the field, I know that FEMA has access to ready-to-go potable water, generators, mobile medical equipment and more for hurricane relief on the Gulf Coast. It's all still there. Army Lt. Gen. Russel Honoré, who served as the task force commander for emergency response after Hurricane Katrina, told the Christian Science Monitor, “I thought we had learned that from Katrina, take food and water and start evacuating people." Maybe we learned but, apparently, Gates and the Defense Department missed school that day.
7.
Send in the Marines. That's America's response. That's what we're good at. The aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson finally showed up after three days. With what? It was dramatically deployed — without any emergency relief supplies. It has sidewinder missiles and 19 helicopters.
8.
But don't worry, the International Search and Rescue Team, fully equipped and self-sufficient for up to seven days in the field, deployed immediately with ten metric tons of tools and equipment, three tons of water, tents, advanced communication equipment and water purifying capability. They're from Iceland.
9.
Gates wouldn't send in food and water because, he said, there was no "structure ... to provide security." For Gates, appointed by Bush and allowed to hang around by Obama, it's security first. That was his lesson from Hurricane Katrina. Blackwater before drinking water.
10.
Previous US presidents have acted far more swiftly in getting troops on the ground on that island. Haiti is the right half of the island of Hispaniola. It's treated like the right testicle of Hell. The Dominican Republic the left. In 1965, when Dominicans demanded the return of Juan Bosch, their elected President, deposed by a junta, Lyndon Johnson reacted to this crisis rapidly, landing 45,000 US Marines on the beaches to prevent the return of the elected president.
11.
How did Haiti end up so economically weakened, with infrastructure, from hospitals to water systems, busted or non-existent - there are two fire stations in the entire nation - and infrastructure so frail that the nation was simply waiting for "nature" to finish it off?
Don’t blame Mother Nature for all this death and destruction. That dishonor goes to Papa Doc and Baby Doc, the Duvalier dictatorship, which looted the nation for 28 years. Papa and his Baby put an estimated 80% of world aid into their own pockets - with the complicity of the US government happy to have the Duvaliers and their voodoo militia, Tonton Macoutes, as allies in the Cold War. (The war was easily won: the Duvaliers’ death squads murdered as many as 60,000 opponents of the regime.)
12.
What Papa and Baby didn't run off with, the IMF finished off through its "austerity" plans. An austerity plan is a form of voodoo orchestrated by economists zomby-fied by an irrational belief that cutting government services will somehow help a nation prosper.
13.
In 1991, five years after the murderous Baby fled, Haitians elected a priest, Jean-Bertrand Aristide, who resisted the IMF's austerity diktats. Within months, the military, to the applause of Papa George HW Bush, deposed him.
History repeats itself, first as tragedy, then as farce. The farce was George W. Bush. In 2004, after the priest Aristide was re-elected President, he was kidnapped and removed again, to the applause of Baby Bush.
14.
Haiti was once a wealthy nation, the wealthiest in the hemisphere, worth more, wrote Voltaire in the 18th century, than that rocky, cold colony known as New England. Haiti's wealth was in black gold: slaves. But then the slaves rebelled - and have been paying for it ever since.
From 1825 to 1947, France forced Haiti to pay an annual fee to reimburse the profits lost by French slaveholders caused by their slaves’ successful uprising. Rather than enslave individual Haitians, France thought it more efficient to simply enslave the entire nation.
15.
Secretary Gates tells us, "There are just some certain facts of life that affect how quickly you can do some of these things." The Navy's hospital boat will be there in, oh, a week or so. Heckuva job, Brownie!
16.
Note just received from my friend. Her sister was found, dead; and her other sister had to bury her. Her father needs his anti-seizure medicines. That's a fact of life too, Mr. President.
Greg Palast

Philo

The disaster in Haiti does not seem an appropriate time for a paean to the US, criticism of the UN, or a gibe about Gaza.

On a more uplifting note, the response of Israel and others is heartening.

davod

WRT to "Secretary Gates tells us, "There are just some certain facts of life that affect how quickly you can do some of these things."

Gates is preaching the Obama party line. It was probaly far more important to the Clerks that America not to be seen as domineering so the footprint had to be small and subservient to other interests. They worry about the UN and the Chavez's of this world being upset.

phil

It can be no surprise that Israel has made such an effort in HAITI ,all our teachings tell us to save one life is to save the world , what is also no surprise is that the usual suspects have not said a word here -I pray that those poor people can find their lives again and soon

Miv Tucker

I've just been watching items about the Israeli medical team's heroic efforts in Haiti (and feeling quite emotional), but of course they were completely overshadowed by the Arab and Iranian teams.

Obviously, a tiny nation like Israel simply doesn't have the resources to compete against its wealthier, and better organized neighbours.

Steve R

But we still have under threat of imprisonment to give the BBC £3.5 BILLON p.a.

Tim Ottevanger

Some of your deluded bloggers obviouslty watch/listen to BBC with the sound off. I have heard several reports o n the BBC about the Israeli aid effort, but that wouldn't suit your BBC bashers, would it?

Pip

I heard about Israel going into Haiti in the very early stages via Fox News, it filled me with pride, joy and relief, at the same time also sadness, because I knew their good actions would not be mentioned much at all in the MSM.

Bless ya Israel!

Adam B.

Tim Ottevanger, we "BBC bashers" bash this gargantuan publicly funded broadcaster for a reason - it is obsessively and unfairly hostile to the Jewish state. The report I saw showed Israeli rescuers, but the word "Israeli" was conspicuous by its absence. The report then followed other rescuers, and in every case, their nationality was mentioned.

Manuel

The IDF field hospital is doing wonderful work in Haiti & Israel deserves all the credit for its prompt response, unlike nearly all of its most voicferous & threatening neighbours.
In all fairness to the much, and generally thoroughly deserved, maligned BBC, it did air a large segment of news showing one of its reporters on a rescue mission with Israeli rescuers and later at the IDF field hospital. This was shown either last Sunday or Monday (forget which day). The reporter fully praised Israel for its prompt response to the crisis. The report showed us how neat and organised is the hospital, contrasting this with the chaos elsewhere and lack of other such facilities. In this instance, credit be given to the BBC. No doubt its editors will be "pulled over the coals" for releasing this piece of "the Zionist entity's"
propaganda.
The terrible delays in getting help to the stricken must be rightly laid at the door of the UN, an organisation that is good on rhetoric and not much else. The Sec General had time to be there for photo opportunities but obviously not for kicking his organisation into action. What a waste of time & of CO2 emisions.

Isaac Bickerstaff

The BBC has filmed the Israelis at work and talked about it too. Again. So everything so far on this thread has proved inapropriate or misplaced: praise of the US and its actions in Haiti, point-scoring over Gaza, complaints about the BBC...I have to agree with Philo and *** (assuming they have already made their donations). This has all been in bad taste. At least we can all agree that it is a good thing Israel and all the other donors came to the aid of the long-suffering people of Haiti. And after the immediate crisis has passed, we have to hope there will be serious reflection on how the response to emergency can be more effective in future.