Ebola: Israel takes a pass

Israel snubs Obama plea for personnel in Ebola zone

'No feasible way to provide for the safety of Israeli doctors and medical crews'

The U.S. may be willing to send its finest, the soldiers in its military, to Liberia to fight Ebola, but not Israel.
America’s best ally in the Middle East for generations has refused to go along with a request from Samantha Power, America’s U.N. ambassador.

The reports have pointedly noted that the U.S. cut off flights to Israel over the recent military activity on the part of Hamas, but has continued to provide flight connections to the Ebola-stricken West Africa.

“There’s a little buzz today on this story reporting that Israel has turned down a request from Samantha Power and the United States to provide medical assistance and personnel to Ebola-stricken countries in Africa,” the report said.

“Does Samantha Power not see the double standard here? To summarize: the United States canceled flights to Israel earlier this summer because of one errant rocket from Gaza that hit near Ben Gurion airport in Tel Aviv, but now wants Israel to send help to hot-zones in Africa?

“Israel was somehow unsafe for air travel, but there are no worries flying Israelis to Liberia or Sierra Leone?”

Israel News Now had the post, “Israel rejects U.S. request on Ebola relief in Africa.” Because?

Well, “Defense Minister Moshe Ya’alon says assisting in medical relief in Liberia and Sierra Leone would risk infecting Israeli personnel.”

One blogger put it a little more bluntly. Following a reference to Ya’alon were the words “The hell I’ll expose my troops to Ebola.”

But it did have an explanation: “The Foreign Ministry recommended the Defense Ministry respond positively to the Americans’ request, even though it was a complex mission, which runs the risk of infection for medical crews, who would have been forced to wear full [hazmat] suits. … However, after examining the request and mission details, the Defense Ministry decided against Israel’s participation, saying there was no feasible way to provide for the safety of the Israeli doctors and medical crews, which then could return to Israel and further spread the virus.”

At Ynet News, it was reported that the U.S. and U.N. wanted Israeli help because of the “past success of the IDF’s field hospital in natural and humanitarian disasters – like in earthquake-hit Haiti or tsunami stricken Japan.”

“Obama bans travel to & from Israel but not Ebola nations, because liquid organs & bleeding from your eyes is less bad than hurt feelings.”

Zach Hanover added, “Obama grievously suspended flights to Israel during the recent conflict, and now refuses to do it for Ebola.”

An anonymous commenter added, “Good for Israel. I’m an American and I applaud Israel for telling Obama to go to hell in public.”

The U.S., meanwhile, confirmed on Friday that up to 3,900 U.S. soldiers will be sent to that hot zone for command control, logistics, civil affairs and medical help.

Department of Defense spokesman Rear Adm. John Kirby said the soldiers’ exposure to Ebola will be limited.

WND had reported one day earlier that the Pentagon is planning to spend at least $1 billion on the effort, and critics were questioning why Obama was using valuable, highly trained warriors to provide mostly logistical and engineering support for health workers trying to stop the spread of Ebola there.

At Friday’s news conference, those answers really weren’t available. Kirby earlier had said the troops would be setting up the infrastructure for an operation that will be run by the State Department’s U.S. Agency for International Development, or USAID, and the Centers for Disease Control.

He said then the effort would not include U.S. military personnel treating Ebola patients. Instead, their function will be in support of other health-care workers who are the experts in the Ebola treatment process.

WND requests for answers about why U.S. troops are being used in a scene containing a deadly viral disease didn’t generate any responses. He also couldn’t respond to questions about whether other countries could be helping, saying those invitations were up to the government of Liberia.

On Friday, he said 1,400 soldiers would be moved over to Africa on an as-needed basis, but the early surveys of the needs suggested that up to 3,900 soldiers would be required, and that was what was authorized.

Source: http://www.wnd.com/2014/10/israel-snubs-obama-plea-for-personnel-in-ebola-zone/