Where Have You Been?

When there were earthquakes in Turkey, in 1999, and in 2011 Israel sent special teams of experts to help with the aftermath of those natural disasters.  Doctors, medics, search teams along with specially trained dogs were all dispatched to help the Turkish people.

During the very early part of 2010 one of the most powerful earthquakes struck Haiti.  Israel sent special teams of experts to help with the aftermath of that natural disaster.  Doctors, medics, search teams along with specially trained dogs were sent to offer aid and encouragement to the people of Haiti.

Throughout its history, especially since 1959, the people of Israel and the various democratically elected governments of Israel have provided humanitarian aid to over 140 countries in the world.  Israel has, since 1980, provided humanitarian aid beyond its borders, because of natural disasters.

When a tsunami struck in the Indian Ocean, in December of 2004, it was one of the worst natural disasters in history. Israel sent 60 tons of aid to Indonesia, which was well-received by a country with the largest Muslim population in the world, and no ties with Israel.

The Israeli government sent 82 tons of relief supplies, including medicine, water, food, blankets, tents, nylon sheeting and electric generators to Sri Lanka. Magen David Adom, Israel’s division of the International Red Cross, dispatched additional urgent medical supplies to hospitals in Sri Lanka’s capital Colombo.

When the Alawite eye doctor decided to outdo his father and make Hama look like a minor disaster, by causing the deaths, so far, of over one hundred and thirty thousand of his own country’s citizens, Israel set up emergency medical care tents on its border with Syria to help those in urgent need of medical care.

Israel and its people have provided food and medical supplies, as well as other humanitarian aid to Pakistan after a November 2005 earthquake.

Since 1967 Israel has, despite everything, provided in one way or another, humanitarian aid to the Palestinian inhabitants of Gaza, be it in the form of caring for the sick in Israeli hospitals, or by supplying food, medicine, clean water and electricity, even when under rocket and missile attack from Hamas.

When, in 1948, Israel implemented the United Nations resolution 181 of November 29, 1947, and declared that Israel would become the homeland of the Jewish People, there were a million Jews living in Arab and Muslim countries.  These Jews soon found themselves without property, professions and their daily lives.  Almost six hundred thousand found a new home over the next few years, in a nation that could barely sustain itself.

So, I am curious and I want to know.  Where have you been when you demonize Israel and its people?  Have you not been reading the newspapers?  Have you not been listening to the radio?  Have you not been watching television?  Where have you been?  In this age of information so available now to every single person on this earth who has a computer or a mobile telephone, have you not been reading any of the information that is there, right there at your fingertips?

Israel, a world leader in agricultural methods showing farmers in the most water deprived countries how to grow crops to sustain themselves and their families.  Israel, a world leader in irrigation technology, conserving our most precious resource, water, and showing others how to do the same.  Israel, a world leader in aeronautic and engineering technologies, medical research and communication technology.

Where have you been?  When you march with your little placard, you know the one, with the small equal sign, when you show your complete ignorance by equating our Star of David with the swastika, I want to know where have you been?  What cave have you been hiding in for the past few thousand years?

When you scream your little hateful screams against the Jewish people, when you try your best to be hurtful by equating us to the Nazi demons who murdered so much of my family, when you tell us to go back to the ovens, don’t you even stop for one moment to think about what it is exactly that you are saying?  A world without the Jewish people, is that what you want?

Where have you been you small and hate-filled little person?