Letter to the Sussex Express from The Zionist Federation

The following letter was sent to the Sussex Express newspaper by Paul Charney, Chairman, Zionist Federation

If the readers of the Sussex Express are genuinely interested in learning about Israel and Palestine, then MAP (Medical Aid for Palestinians) are one of the last organisations they should consult.

There is no doubt that the Israeli-Palestinian conflict has affected the lives of those on both sides, which is why it is so important that a stable and viable peace can be reached. Peace, however, is not brought any closer by the peddling of falsehoods and disinformation.

It is hard to believe that anyone could think that MAP’s reports are unbiased, or that the organisation does not take sides. The organisation clearly takes the side of the Palestinians –the clue is in the name, after all – and the materials they produce are highly biased, ignoring the complexity of the situation or any facts that don’t fit with their well-worn narrative of Israel heartlessly oppressing Palestinians.

So here are some more details that tend not to make it into the newspapers. Palestinians and their families have access to a wide range of hospital treatments and medical services in their territories, comparable with much of the rest of the Middle East, and better than many other places in the world.

Despite the conflict, they also have access to treatment in Israel. In 2012, for example, over 200,000 Palestinian patients and their companions travelled into Israel for specialised treatment, including the brother-in-law of Ismail Haniyeh, the leader of Hamas in Gaza, an organisation that is committed to the violent destruction of the Jewish state. And Israeli medical professionals also help train their Palestinian counterparts – with the equivalent of £350,000 spent last year alone on bringing doctors, nurses and paramedics to Israel for this purpose.

All this demonstrates how Israelis, like MAP, also believe that the Palestinians should get the best possible care. Unlike MAP, they just don’t think they should be demonised whilst doing so.

Paul Charney,

Chairman,

Zionist Federation

For additional information regarding the medical support offered by Israel, please see the following link: http://www.jpost.com/Diplomacy-and-Politics/Israeli-PA-cooperation-continues-despite-tensions