Jerusalem – Israel barred a group of Palestinian firefighters who helped battle the country’s worst wildfire from attending a ceremony in their honor Tuesday, the latest in a series of embarrassments over Israel’s handling of the blaze.
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Eleven Palestinians had planned to attend the event in northern Israel, where the fire raged earlier this month. Israeli Arab lawmaker Ahmad Tibi, one of the event’s organizers, said the fete was called off when three of the Palestinians were refused entry.
About 20 Palestinian firefighters joined the international effort against the blaze that killed 43 people as it swept through the Carmel forest in Israel’s north — the biggest forest fire Israel has ever seen.
In the end, firefighting aircraft and crews from abroad helped put it out.
Tibi said the army turned the Palestinians away on security grounds.
He said the ceremony was meant to recognize the bravery of the Palestinian firefighters who “fought the flames despite the occupation.”
The Israeli military had no comment.
During the struggle against the wildfire, the Palestinians said they were there to show that despite political tensions, the two sides can cooperate.
The cancellation of the ceremony comes as an embarrassment for Israel and calls into question the effectiveness of its security measures.
Ahmed Rizek, head of the Palestinian fire services, who did not receive his permit in time for the ceremony, said the denial of entry for no apparent reason was routine, and an example of what West Bank Palestinians put up with on a daily basis.
“They (the military) told me there is a mistake and that they didn’t mean it,” he said.
utmost, total and arrogant stupidity
morons, plain and simple
The security issue is important, but they could have made provisions to cover security.
There is a common bond between members of the fire service everywhere. This is a very bad slap in the face of those who came and helped.
Did they actually help, or did they show up with their water pails after it was already extinguished?
Interesting, all the people claiming that something happened are Arabs, the Israelis didn’t comment yet, why are you people so easy to believe what the Arab Haters say? Maybe the story never happened and they’re blowing hot air???
Why was it not a security issue when they came to help fight the fires?
Thank you VIN for reporting this item but I have encountered Sabra chauvinism during other situations
We rightfully ask, “where are the moderate arabs?” In this case the answer seems to be: “distanced by some dumb Israelis!”
There are two parts to the saying cabdeihu v’chashdeihu (respect and suspect). Someone better start remembering the first part.
First, Yishai burns down the entire forest under his watch because he refused to accept brand new fire trucks from a Christian group, but didn’t mind when Christian donation monies were ending up in yeshivos. Now, Another Israeli government moron bans Palestinian firefighters from a ceremony. Great Work Israel!! Continue digging your own P.R. grave around the world.
Wow. Moshe Dayan once said of the Palestinians that they never miss an opportunity to miss an opportunity. Sounds like this might also be true of a few Israelis… Sad story– sounds like this was a chance to build a bit of good will where good will is in very short supply.
To #22 -David- Moshe Dayan never said that “the Palestinians never miss an opportunity to miss an opportunity”. It was Abba Eban, who made that statement. Regarding the Palestinian firefighters, the Shin Bet had to have known the names and backgrounds of all of the Palestinian firefighters, before they were let into the country; thus, they were prescreened. Therefore, the excuse that they could not attend the honoring ceremony for “security” reasons was simply not true. There was a book written many years ago, which should be required of every Israeli politician as well as key members of the Shin Bet, Mossad, and IDF, namely “How to Win Friends and Influence People”.
Wow!!! Why is everyone so quick to judge the Israelis? Have you heard their say yet? How many times has our enemy smiled to our face only to stab us in the back? Have any critics here determined for a fact that there was no good reason for the denial of entry of 3 of the 20 Palestinian firefighters? If a red flag was raised while conducting security measures, should they have been ignored? If you were there as an attendee, would you have felt safe had you known that security measures were relaxed on “just this one occasion”? Get real and think before you lash out at a people who can never afford to fall asleep on their watch against a ruthless enemy.
Non 17 you lack insight and understanding.The Nazis had a slogan “Die Juden sind unser Unglueck” Jews are our misfortune. At the liberation from Buchenwald Yidden kept their fingert of Germans and their property , the Russians acted differently. This was a sreife which could have done more damage then it did. I remember in Vienna we collected for the KKL money to plant trees. One must judge and focus on the narrow group and there was an opportunity to gain good will and Sabra arrogance blew it. One way or the other .E.Y. will have to live with the Arabs and if there is a gesture of good will grab it instead tell them to go to h’ll
If this story turns out to be true, this is a disgrace of the highest proportions!
What an ingrateful thing to do…