Israel and Haiti

[faceless]

In his weekly Canadian Jewish News media analysis column “According to Reports,” Paul Michaels, CIC Director of Communications, looks at the coverage of Israel’s response to the earthquake in Haiti.

The devastating earthquake in Haiti dominated the news last week. And on the U.S. television networks, several news reports focused on the speed with which Israel – although 7,000 miles away from Haiti – managed to establish a sophisticated field hospital. This story had special resonance in the United States because, as intense as the American relief effort was, it had not managed to match the Israeli accomplishment, even as the number of Haitians in dire need of medical attention remained overwhelming.

For instance, on ABC World News (Jan. 18), anchor Diane Sawyer introduced a story by saying that Israel’s medical unit had already become “legendary.” Sawyer interviewed Dr. Richard Besser, ABC’s senior medical editor and an expert in emergency response. “What do you make of this?” Sawyer asked. Besser pointed to the contrast between the U.S. and Israeli response: “The timeline is very different,” he said. “The Israelis arrived here Friday night [Jan.15]. By Saturday morning they had set up a field hospital. The Americans were just getting started this morning [last Monday]. I can’t understand that difference when Haiti is so close to our shore.”

Sawyer and Besser remarked on the specialization within the field hospital: a surgical unit; intensive care units for children, a pediatric ward, a maternity ward and so on. On Jan. 19, NBC Nightly News carried much the same report, with an additional focus on the high-tech nature of the hospital: X-rays and other diagnostic procedures could be digitized and transmitted to Israel – or anywhere else for that matter – for consultation. The medical technology was all in the interest of reaching the best and quickest decision for the patient.

With its quick reaction to the Haitian disaster, Israel provided the world with a model of emergency medical response.

cicweb.ca

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There were so many flags waving contra-fucking-diction in my head as I read this piece.

The biggest irony (or bare-faced sarcastic cynicism depending on how you see it) is in the comparison with Gaza, where the IDF caused as much damage as a natural disaster and continue to force and enhance a humanitarian disaster.

[modern]

So where were the field hospitals in Gaza after last year's attack? Where was the compassion there?

[mickyv]

Yes we have to applaud all humanitarian aid & efforts, but also bear in mind that the Israeli Government itself stated that this was an opportunity to win back some PR after the Gaza Massacre; witness the Israelis themselves making fun of this (including blacked-up "Haitian" !):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8kqZ-GtNaM8&feature=player_embedded#

[faceless]

that's quite strange for sure

[mickyv]

Not really strange Faceless, Israelis more than others, can easily see through their Governments PR propaganda efforts.

[faceless]

it was more the blacked-up guy that I thought was strange - but maybe the show's like that Australian show 'Chaser's War' and they have a set cast each week.