|
Trending Topics
|
Israeli Medical Humanitarian Work along Syrian Border Deserves UN Recognition
(Chicago Sun-Times) Randy Hultgren and Aviv Ezra - On recent visits we each have taken to Israel, we witnessed both the horrors of war and the compassion of healers. Israel has implemented a good neighbor policy since 2013 that calls for medical treatment of all Syrian civilians seeking care. More than 4,000 Syrians have been treated in Israel, including 1,000 children. Israel has even opened up a maternity hospital on the Syrian side of the Golan Heights. Syrian children are also receiving necessities to improve their quality of life, such as eyeglasses and hearing aids. Israel treats any Syrian who needs it, free of charge. In addition, the Israeli Army has an official program, Operation Good Neighbor, that provides food, clothing, fuel, equipment and medical supplies to 250,000 Syrians. We call upon the UN Human Rights Council to acknowledge that Israel has saved thousands of Syrian lives during one of the largest human rights atrocities in the world. Administering medical care to any injured person, regardless of whom they are, is a standard Israelis and Americans live by - and is who we are as nations. Randy Hultgren is a U.S. Congressman (R-Ill.). Aviv Ezra is the Consul General of Israel to the Midwest, based in Chicago.