GoFuckYourself.com - Adult Webmaster Forum - View Single Post - Kuwait: $500MILLION donation, AFGHANISTAN $100K, Israel? $0.00

foe · 09-04-2005, 12:00 PM

JPost.com » International » Article
Sep. 4, 2005 12:08 | Updated Sep. 4, 2005 19:14
Israel offers hospital, forensic experts and prayers to US
By HERB KEINON
[Print this Article] [EMail this Article] [Subscribe] [SMS Alerts]

Eager to show the US that Israel cares, Jerusalem is offering the US a field hospital, forensic experts and even organized prayer in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, diplomatic officials said Sunday.

According to the officials, Jerusalem is still waiting for a response from Washington whether it has need for an IDF field hospital to be set up in areas hit by the Hurricane, or whether the US can use Israeli forensic specialists expert in identifying bodies.

Israel experts, according to officials in Jerusalem, gained valuable experience identifying flood victims during January's tsunami when a team of experts was sent to Thailand.

Beyond sending concrete aid, a number of other ideas to show that Israel cares about the tragedy that has befallen its closest ally were raised in a Foreign Ministry meeting Sunday. One idea was to turn to the Chief Rabbinate to have special prayers recited in the country's synagogues on Shabbat on behalf of the victims of the hurricane.

Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, meanwhile, told the cabinet Sunday that a delegation of defense and health ministry officials would go to the US this week to coordinate ways in which Israel could help the hurricane relief efforts there. The officials are to meet with representatives from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).

Sharon, who opened up the cabinet meeting by sending condolences in the name of Israel to the US, said "the US has stood by our side during the most difficult days, and it is our obligation to help it in the areas where we are able to assist."

"I want to reiterate my condolences. We will do everything in our power to render assistance in the difficult situation in which so many American citizens find themselves," Sharon said.

Meanwhile, officials in Jerusalem said that the massive, multi-billion dollar rebuilding effort that will be necessary for New Orleans and other areas effected by the hurricane will likely alter Israel's tactics in trying to win some $2.2 billion in disengagement related aid to develop the Negev and the Galilee.

Talks on this aid package have been taking place for weeks.

One official in Jerusalem said that Israel will now have to take into consideration the US domestic situation ? as well as US President George W. Bush's new political problems ? before formally asking for the assistance.

"Now is obviously not the time to go to Washington to talk about this," one official said. "It is too early to tell how this will effect us, but there will obviously be ramifications, such as how this will negatively impact Bush."

Earlier on Sunday, the United States asked the European Union and NATO for emergency assistance, requesting blankets, first aid kits, water trucks and food for the victims of Katrina, the two organizations said Sunday.

EU Environment Commissioner Stavros Dimas said the 25-nation bloc was "ready to contribute to the U.S. efforts aimed at alleviating the humanitarian crisis" in Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama - the American states hardest hit by Katrina.

The 26-nation NATO alliance said it too had received a request for aid from Washington. The United States has asked for NATO relief support in the form of food rations for the thousands of people evacuated from New Orleans and other areas, the alliance said in a statement.

US authorities had requested 500,000 prepared meals, thousands of blankets, first aid kits and several water trucks to provide clean drinking water.

Over 12,000 national guardsmen and army personnel were in the area to aid in the rescue efforts and to return law and order to a violence-ridden New Orleans after municipal and law enforcement services were shut down in the wake of Hurricane Katrina.

09-04-2005, 12:00 PM
foe Confirmed User Join Date: May 2002 Location: CT Posts: 5,246	JPost.com » International » Article Sep. 4, 2005 12:08 \| Updated Sep. 4, 2005 19:14 Israel offers hospital, forensic experts and prayers to US By HERB KEINON [Print this Article] [EMail this Article] [Subscribe] [SMS Alerts] Eager to show the US that Israel cares, Jerusalem is offering the US a field hospital, forensic experts and even organized prayer in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, diplomatic officials said Sunday. According to the officials, Jerusalem is still waiting for a response from Washington whether it has need for an IDF field hospital to be set up in areas hit by the Hurricane, or whether the US can use Israeli forensic specialists expert in identifying bodies. Israel experts, according to officials in Jerusalem, gained valuable experience identifying flood victims during January's tsunami when a team of experts was sent to Thailand. Beyond sending concrete aid, a number of other ideas to show that Israel cares about the tragedy that has befallen its closest ally were raised in a Foreign Ministry meeting Sunday. One idea was to turn to the Chief Rabbinate to have special prayers recited in the country's synagogues on Shabbat on behalf of the victims of the hurricane. Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, meanwhile, told the cabinet Sunday that a delegation of defense and health ministry officials would go to the US this week to coordinate ways in which Israel could help the hurricane relief efforts there. The officials are to meet with representatives from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). Sharon, who opened up the cabinet meeting by sending condolences in the name of Israel to the US, said "the US has stood by our side during the most difficult days, and it is our obligation to help it in the areas where we are able to assist." "I want to reiterate my condolences. We will do everything in our power to render assistance in the difficult situation in which so many American citizens find themselves," Sharon said. Meanwhile, officials in Jerusalem said that the massive, multi-billion dollar rebuilding effort that will be necessary for New Orleans and other areas effected by the hurricane will likely alter Israel's tactics in trying to win some $2.2 billion in disengagement related aid to develop the Negev and the Galilee. Talks on this aid package have been taking place for weeks. One official in Jerusalem said that Israel will now have to take into consideration the US domestic situation ? as well as US President George W. Bush's new political problems ? before formally asking for the assistance. "Now is obviously not the time to go to Washington to talk about this," one official said. "It is too early to tell how this will effect us, but there will obviously be ramifications, such as how this will negatively impact Bush." Earlier on Sunday, the United States asked the European Union and NATO for emergency assistance, requesting blankets, first aid kits, water trucks and food for the victims of Katrina, the two organizations said Sunday. EU Environment Commissioner Stavros Dimas said the 25-nation bloc was "ready to contribute to the U.S. efforts aimed at alleviating the humanitarian crisis" in Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama - the American states hardest hit by Katrina. The 26-nation NATO alliance said it too had received a request for aid from Washington. The United States has asked for NATO relief support in the form of food rations for the thousands of people evacuated from New Orleans and other areas, the alliance said in a statement. US authorities had requested 500,000 prepared meals, thousands of blankets, first aid kits and several water trucks to provide clean drinking water. Over 12,000 national guardsmen and army personnel were in the area to aid in the rescue efforts and to return law and order to a violence-ridden New Orleans after municipal and law enforcement services were shut down in the wake of Hurricane Katrina.