This week I placed a news item on the Christians for Zion
Web site concerning an organisation called Medical Aid for Palestinians which
has launched a campaign in the United Kingdom which misinforms and incites
hatred towards Israel. During September the campaign was centred in Oxford. It
is believed that MAP have distributed over 50,000 leaflets to resident’s homes
apart from advertisements being placed in the local press. The campaign has
alleged that Israel refuses Palestinians Arabs from Gaza receiving medical aid
in Israel. That there are over 500 checkpoints preventing movement of
Palestinian Arabs and that Israel refuses to allow fuel in to Gaza. They make
other allegations which are also untrue. What is more disturbing is that
Baroness Morris of Bolton who is the president of MAP is also the Governments
Trade envoy to the Palestinian Territories should know that the allegations which
MAP make are untrue.
There are some facts which
we all know are true and cannot reasonably be opposed. I think all of us know
that the Security barrier was erected to prevent suicide bombings which were
executed by terrorists entering Bars and Restaurants and on public transport. I
have experience with such killings and know victims who are still suffering.
The barrier is their only defence. Before the security barrier, in 2002, 47
terror attacks left 452 Israeli civilians dead. Such attacks have been known to
include the use of ambulances to conceal and transport terrorist weapons. See
the film at this link to understand how important it is to have a security
fence.
We
all should know that Israeli hospitals treat patients without regard to
nationality and religion. Although we
may not know the detail which is that in May of this year 30% of the child
patients in Hadassah Hospital Jerusalem are Palestinian Arabs. The hospital is
currently training 60 Palestinian physicians who will be returning to the West
Bank to care for their community. Israeli Hospitals treated nearly 220,000
Palestinian Arabs in 2012, including Suhila Abd el-Salam, the sister of the
Hamas Prime Minister in Gaza. Reports show that Israel do all they can to
facilitate the entry of Palestinian Arab patients from Gaza for medical
treatment in Israeli hospitals. 91.5% of the applications for medical treatment
in Israel were approved, 7.2% were pending security check and only 1.3% of the
applications were rejected. There are many examples of Hamas punishing Gaza's
citizens over its Political disagreements with Fatah by refusing to allow
citizens to receive medical treatment in Israel. The EU has commented on a
number of occasions that Palestinian policies, not only make it harder for
Palestinians to access Israeli hospitals, but they even damage Palestinian
hospitals. The EU condemns Hamas for its role in worsening the humanitarian
situation of the Palestinians in Gaza. Patients from Gaza continue to enter
Israel through the Erez Crossing for medical treatment. MAP omits to mention
that shortages of medical supplies, to the extent there is one, is due
suppliers being reluctant to sell to Gaza since there are issues with
non-payment. I have been an observer at this crossing and can only witness to
Israel’s co-operation and courtesy with the Palestinian Arabs entering and
leaving Gaza.
In
2011 Hamas elected to discontinue the purchase of fuel from Israel for Gaza’s
power plant. We must also not forget such incidents as the murder of two
Israeli’s as they were in the process of supplying fuel to Gaza in September
2008 at the Nahal Oz fuel terminal.
My
question is why does someone like Baroness Morris of Bolton, who clearly has
professional responsibility in Israel for trade, does she allow her Charity,
for which she is president, to distribute lies.
I can’t
answer that because I don’t know her and have not asked her to explain but I do
have an explanation from Tony Laurence CBE who is he CEO of MAP and he states
that the “Separation Wall and other Barriers are an intolerable impediment to
the wellbeing of Palestinian civilians who have been living under occupation
for 46 years- People who have much right to health as someone living in Oxford
or anywhere for that matter”. Do you think that someone who has expertise in
the area would know that the Israeli’s suffered indescribably by the suicide
bombings which the security barrier prevents. Does he think that Israeli’s have
no right to defend themselves.
If a Charity
such as MAP, headed up by a member of The House of Lords, misleads the public to
believe that Israel are not helping the ordinary Palestinian Arabs when they are we in the UK really are in trouble.
Michael Fryer
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