Contrast: Israel offered help to Iran after
massive earthquake; Iran refused
In response to news of wild bush fires ranging in northern Israel, many Arabs have responded with glee and joy about the deaths of Israelis in readers’ responses to Arab media reports. According to the Jerusalem Post’s Khaled Abu Toameh, “a majority believe that God is ‘punishing’ Israel for occupying Arab lands and killing Palestinians, especially during Operation Cast Lead in the Gaza Strip. Many Arabs also strongly condemned Egypt and Jordan for agreeing to help in extinguishing the blaze. Others called on Israel’s enemies, particularly Iran, Hamas and Hizbullah to seize the opportunity and try to wipe Israel off the face of earth. Only a few readers and viewers expressed sympathy with Israel over the tragedy and the loss of many lives.”
Toameh includes several samples of Arab reaction to the news:
“May Allah punish all Arabs who helped put down the fire. We pray to Allah that the fire will grow and spread to oil wells in the Arab world.”
“O’ Allah, burn them [Jews] before the Day of Judgment. O’ Allah, destroy them and all the enemies of Islam.”
“May Allah take revenge against them and displace them together with our corrupt [Arab] governments.”
“This is the right time for Iran. If one fire has caused panic in the Zionist entity, where are Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and Hassan Nasrallah? And where is Syria? One rocket could set thousands of fires.”
“Allah gives time, but never neglects. The Israelis are being punished for their deeds. We hope their end is nearing.”
“Sounds strange that Arabs are sending aid to our enemies. Allah is punishing the Jews by making with the fire. No military force or US veto can stop the fire.”
“Thank God for this new Holocaust and shame on the Egyptian authorities who rushed to save the Zionists while continuing to lay siege against our brothers in the Gaza Strip.”
“Thank God for burning the Jews the same way they burned our Muslim brothers in Palestine.”
“To Hizbullah, Hamas and all Arabs: this is a golden opportunity to get rid of Israel. The sea and fire are in front of the Jews and weapons are behind them.”
“This fire is the result of prayers from our prisoners held in occupation jails. The fire of Hell will be even stronger. May those Arabs who are helping the Jews burn with them in Hell.”
“Allahu Akbar! This is an effective weapon. We call on our Palestinian brothers to set fire to all forests.”
“How many prisoners did the wardens torture? Allah has answered the prayers of the oppressed” (Khaled Abu Toameh, ‘Fire is God punishing Israel for occupying Arab lands,’ Jerusalem Post, December 4, 2010).
ZOA National President Morton A. Klein said, “The Arab reaction to this great human tragedy in Israel clearly underscores the reason for the Arab war on Israel: Arabs and Muslims in the region are so consumed with hatred of Israel and Jews that any misfortunate that befalls them is celebrated and gleefully welcomed.
“This is in stark contrast to the general Israeli attitude, which has never welcomed human tragedy when it befalls Arabs and Muslims. On the contrary, in December2003, when Iran was struck by a massive earthquake that killed tens of thousands, Israel put aside all political questions and offered humanitarian assistance (in which it is highly skilled, as we were only this year reminded by the tragedy in Haiti) unconditionally. Israel rescue crews could have been on the scene within hours. Yet Iran refused help from the ‘Zionist regime.’ It preferred that some of its citizens suffer and die for lack of assistance, rather than accept help from Israel. Such assistance would have humanized Israelis to the Iranian and larger Muslim public – the last thing enemies of Israel will tolerate.
“Anyone who cares to know why there is a war on Israel need look no further than the obscene, dehumanizing joy that people in neighboring states have expressed to see Israelis consumed by flames.”