Israel Aiding Wounded Syrians, Turning Them from ‘Enemies to Friends’

May 8, 2017

Syria attacked the newly reborn State of Israel almost 70 years ago. But that hasn’t impacted Israel’s ongoing work to help Syrians wounded in that nation’s civil war—and it may even offer hope for peace.

The Israeli Galilee Medical Center has helped more than 1,500 wounded Syrians, roughly 500 of them children and infants. Masad Barhoum, director of the Galilee Medical Center, was quoted in a press release saying “we turned those wounded Syrians from enemies to friends.” Israeli President Reuven Rivlin said the work is a point of pride for Israel and that it will continue.

“It is proof that the world is built on kindness,” said Rivlin. “Israel will continue to do everything it can with responsibility and wisdom, in order to alleviate the suffering of the people who experience daily slaughter here on the other side of the border.”

Rivlin hinted at a link between the devastated Syrians and the Jewish people in commenting on the US military strike against a Syrian airbase, which was in response to the regime’s chemical weapons attack on their own people.

“The United States proved that there are red lines that cannot be crossed in a civilized world, and I hope it will serve as an example for the entire free world,” said Rivlin. “And we, who have risen from the ashes of the Holocaust, know very well that silence cannot be an option.”

The commitment to care for wounded Syrians rests at the highest level of Israel’s government. In separate comments released by his office, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu noted that “Israel is caring for wounded Syrians as part of a humanitarian effort. We will continue to do so.”

Source: Excerpts from an article by Joshua Spurlock, The Mideast Update

Photo Credit: IDFblog.com