David's Shining Star

By now, everyone is familiar with the opening of the Gates of Hell upon the half-island nation of Haiti. The response by the world has been overwhelming and deservedly so. Although conspicuously absent from the list of nations sending aid and relief is just about every Islamic nation, with the exception of Jordan and Qatar. With one of the five pillars of Islam being that of zakat, alms-giving or charity, such a gaping void in just that is something worth scrutinizing.

I wanted to highlight Israel's contribution to the efforts in Haiti because I think they provide a view into the very soul of Israeli society, as well as some perspective on just how big of an impact this country of 7.5 million has on the world.

The response from Israel was nearly instantaneous. Within minutes of learning of the cataclysmic earthquake that had rocked Haiti, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had authorized the Israeli Defense Force to immediately deploy with a full field hospital detachment and personnel to provide life-saving support and services.

The IDF arrived and set up search-and-rescue squads immediately to comb the devastation for survivors. In fact, every day since Saturday, the IDF has maintained a three squad detachment to search the rubble for survivors. And they have met success as recently as yesterday.

And more help is on the way.

Hundreds of wounded Haitians have been brought inside the IDF Medical Corps facility and treated. The 121 man team has been operating day and night, providing some 25 life-saving surgeries in the field and delivering three children.

One of the mothers was so overwhelmed by Israel's help that she actually named her child Israel.

The number of Israeli medical personnel outnumbers the contribution of both Great Britain and France.

CNN reported yesterday that Israel is the only country actively taking critically injured patients and trying to save them because Israel is the only country that has a world-class medical facility deployed in the field.

Think about that.

Not even the United States has been able to match the quality of field treatment that the tiny nation of Israel is providing. This nation, so often disparaged by the feckless cabal at the United Nations and so often threatened by the radicals seeking its annihilation, is showing its true colors and its true gifts.

The absence of most of the Muslim states' assistance in this crisis, states who so often air their grievances against Israel in our own media, speaks for itself. Aside from Jordan and Qatar, there has been little-to-no substantial assistance allocated by the others.

There are various reasons why they have not. In some cases, financial constraints and turmoil at home prevents or limits the ability to contribute. These are valid and very real explanations.

But they do not unveil the whole story. Just look at Saudi Arabia. The Kingdom is basking in immense oil wealth. What has its response been? And Indonesia, a Muslim nation familiar with the terror of the 2004 tsunami and the recipient of overwhelming Western aid, has provided little to assist.

This is not to say that Muslims aren't providing assistance in Haiti or aren't donating money and blood to aid the desperate Haitians. Many are. And King Abdullah II of Jordan is proving why his country is so respected in the West.

This is to say, however, that the heart of every nation is on display at this moment. And right now, the light from Israel's heart is far outshining its size.

The CNN video clip of the IDF Medical Corps facility can be found here.



Lt. Colonel Avi Berman of the Israeli Defense Force watching over a recently rescued child.