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At Hospitals throughout Israel, Handshakes and Hugs between Arabs and Jews Are the Norm

(Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs) Avigayil Kadesh - In 1997, Detroit-born Larry Rich was taken to Emek Medical Center in Afula, Israel, after suffering a heart attack. "When I woke up in the cardiac intensive care...I saw Arab and Jewish physicians working together to save me. The medical center's professional staff mirrors the national ratio: 20% is Arab, and 20% of the heads of medical departments are Arab Muslims or Christians, Druse or Circassians. Rich, today the director of development and international public relations at Emek, notes: "In the northeast, we are the primary healthcare provider for a population of 500,000, equally divided between Arabs and Jews." He wrote of "Arrif and his 15-year-old-son, Mohammed. They come from Gaza. They have been 'living' in Emek for 10 months as young Mohammed is being treated for severe facial cancer." Asked about how he feels being among the Jews of Israel, Arrif replies, "Perfectly normal and at ease. Grateful - so very grateful." What does your family back in Gaza say about Mohammed's treatment here? "They are amazed and they send their sincere gratitude. They cannot believe what has and is being done for Mohammed and me." Rich says, "I am not a politician or a general in the army. I am just a guy from the street come to open a small window for you to peek in and visit Israel, and then I started telling real-life stories of cooperation, education and life-saving on a professional, patient and family level." "These stories are the norm. They go on in Israel all across the spectrum, every hour of every day." It's "an example of human behavior at its best, of people making conscious decisions to live and work together. This is something people are hungry to hear."
2013-02-01 00:00:00
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