Palestinian firefighters barred from Israeli Ceremony
gimmesometruth27
St. Fuckin Louis Posts: 23,303
security issue, eh???
it was all well and good for them to help you put out the worst fire in israeli history, yet you thank them in this manner???
for some reason it reminds me of the senate republicans who are blocking aid for the sick 9/11 workers....
just sad...
Palestinian firefighters barred from Israeli fete
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20101214/ap_ ... srael_fire
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.
Eleven Palestinians were invited 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.
Palestinian fire chief Ahmed Rizek, whose permit arrived too late for him to attend, said entry refusals for no apparent reason were routine — an example of what West Bank Palestinians put up with daily.
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.
Tuesday's ceremony was set to take place in Usfiya, an Israeli Arab town near to where the blaze erupted, and the Palestinian firefighters were to be awarded certificates at the event.
The cancellation was an embarrassment to Israel at a time when its leaders insist they want to negotiate a peace deal with the Palestinians, and called into question the effectiveness of Israeli security measures.
Palestinians need permits to enter Israel from the West Bank, and many complain that approval or rejection can be arbitrary.
Tibi said the military turned the firefighters away on security grounds.
"It's a theater of the absurd. This is a regular day-to-day practice of the occupation, and it exposes its ugly face," Tibi told The Associated Press.
The Israeli military said the slight was unintentional.
"The delay in handing out the permits occurred because of a technical error in coordination between the two sides," military spokesman Maj. Guy Inbar said in a statement, adding that he "regretted the incident."
By Tuesday evening, all permits were granted, the military said, but it was too late for the ceremony. Tibi said he was going to consult with the firefighters on whether to reschedule the event.
Palestinian Authority spokesman Ghassan Khatib said the incident reflected Israel's mindset.
"The Israeli approach toward the Palestinians is about control rather than security," Khatib said.
Rizek, the Palestinian fire service commander, appeared resigned to the reality.
"They (the military) told me there is a mistake and that they didn't mean it," Rizek said. "I am not upset. I can understand there is something wrong. I don't know what it is, but I don't think they meant it."
Rizek attended a ceremony last week in Jerusalem at the official residence of Israel's president in honor of foreign firefighters who helped put out the blaze.
Israelis harshly criticize their own government because their fire service was unprepared to extinguish the flames. The country doesn't have a single fire extinguishing aircraft, and firefighting materials ran out shortly after the blaze began.
Israel had to appeal to other countries to assist in putting out the flames. The Palestinians were part of a number of foreign fire services that pitched in.
it was all well and good for them to help you put out the worst fire in israeli history, yet you thank them in this manner???
for some reason it reminds me of the senate republicans who are blocking aid for the sick 9/11 workers....
just sad...
Palestinian firefighters barred from Israeli fete
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20101214/ap_ ... srael_fire
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.
Eleven Palestinians were invited 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.
Palestinian fire chief Ahmed Rizek, whose permit arrived too late for him to attend, said entry refusals for no apparent reason were routine — an example of what West Bank Palestinians put up with daily.
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.
Tuesday's ceremony was set to take place in Usfiya, an Israeli Arab town near to where the blaze erupted, and the Palestinian firefighters were to be awarded certificates at the event.
The cancellation was an embarrassment to Israel at a time when its leaders insist they want to negotiate a peace deal with the Palestinians, and called into question the effectiveness of Israeli security measures.
Palestinians need permits to enter Israel from the West Bank, and many complain that approval or rejection can be arbitrary.
Tibi said the military turned the firefighters away on security grounds.
"It's a theater of the absurd. This is a regular day-to-day practice of the occupation, and it exposes its ugly face," Tibi told The Associated Press.
The Israeli military said the slight was unintentional.
"The delay in handing out the permits occurred because of a technical error in coordination between the two sides," military spokesman Maj. Guy Inbar said in a statement, adding that he "regretted the incident."
By Tuesday evening, all permits were granted, the military said, but it was too late for the ceremony. Tibi said he was going to consult with the firefighters on whether to reschedule the event.
Palestinian Authority spokesman Ghassan Khatib said the incident reflected Israel's mindset.
"The Israeli approach toward the Palestinians is about control rather than security," Khatib said.
Rizek, the Palestinian fire service commander, appeared resigned to the reality.
"They (the military) told me there is a mistake and that they didn't mean it," Rizek said. "I am not upset. I can understand there is something wrong. I don't know what it is, but I don't think they meant it."
Rizek attended a ceremony last week in Jerusalem at the official residence of Israel's president in honor of foreign firefighters who helped put out the blaze.
Israelis harshly criticize their own government because their fire service was unprepared to extinguish the flames. The country doesn't have a single fire extinguishing aircraft, and firefighting materials ran out shortly after the blaze began.
Israel had to appeal to other countries to assist in putting out the flames. The Palestinians were part of a number of foreign fire services that pitched in.
"You can tell the greatness of a man by what makes him angry." - Lincoln
"Well, you tell him that I don't talk to suckas."
"Well, you tell him that I don't talk to suckas."
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and i say that based on documented evidence of how Israel treats ordinary Palestinians every single day.
and then there is this.
Israelis harshly criticize their own government because their fire service was unprepared to extinguish the flames. The country doesn't have a single fire extinguishing aircraft, and firefighting materials ran out shortly after the blaze began.
so Israeli's can criticize their government for lack of resources to fight a fire and yet if i ask why is it that Israel has limitless resources to oppress Palestinians and steal their land but fails to have adequate resources to protect its people from fire then i'm the worst person in the world with some people. or is it just ok for Israeli's to criticize Israel?
go figure.
"Palestinians need permits to enter Israel from the West Bank, and many complain that approval or rejection can be arbitrary.Tibi said the military turned the firefighters away on security grounds.
"It's a theater of the absurd. This is a regular day-to-day practice of the occupation, and it exposes its ugly face," Tibi told The Associated Press.
The Israeli military said the slight was unintentional.
"The delay in handing out the permits occurred because of a technical error in coordination between the two sides," military spokesman Maj. Guy Inbar said in a statement, adding that he "regretted the incident."
By Tuesday evening, all permits were granted, the military said, but it was too late for the ceremony. Tibi said he was going to consult with the firefighters on whether to reschedule the event.
Palestinian Authority spokesman Ghassan Khatib said the incident reflected Israel's mindset.
"The Israeli approach toward the Palestinians is about control rather than security," Khatib said.
i mean really, they could not have expedited the process of getting permits to these people that helped put out the fire? they got it to them same day, but too late for the ceremony... i guess that is just the way it goes sometimes, right?
i know government agencies like this can be slow and inefficient, but to me this error is too fishy to have happened by coincidence.
"Well, you tell him that I don't talk to suckas."
Somehow I knew it would end up like this.
I hoped it wouldnt. but alas
where is our mate Yosi on this
Can you spin it around yosi
you gotta admit it though you do always come to Isreals defence LOL ( another one)
Me the aussies
And as you said its a massive shame. but this will continue to happen with isreals attitude towards Palestine.
Yes there is a problem with violence. but is it all or the few.
I see these type of things as a chance to move forward. but alas we move nowhere.
just more blood of the innocent be they from either side
Israel's blockade of gaza costs critically ill Palestinians their lives while they go through all the hoo ha to get approval to travel for medical attention. some die waiting for it.
so if they are not concerned about people losing their lifes then i hardly think they give much thought to ensuring firefighters attend a ceremony in a timely fashion.
And this is what pisses me off so completely with the situation.
What if the Isrealies actually worked with palestinians to root out the violent extremists in their communities, worked with people to actually grow a sense of community. the act of palestinians actually helping the isrealies to fight this fire shows that it can be possable
whats gunna happen next time there is a fire . will the palestinians help or will they say FUCK you, I helped last time and you still wont let me cross the border.
An oppertunity lost