Israeli doctors in Congo to aid burn victims get slammed for occupation

[oberliner]

Uvira, Democratic Republic of Congo - Having never visited Africa before, Israeli burn specialist Dr. Eyal Winkler was apprehensive about what was in store for the delegation of five medical specialists which he led this week to Congo. The locals turned out to be good hosts - but working with Western volunteers proved more complicated.

“I came to save lives, but also because it’s important to me to show that Israel is not the Flotilla Country that it is painted out to be,” said Winkler, deputy director of the department of plastic and reconstructive surgery at Sheba Medical Center.

On Tuesday Winkler arrived at the city of Uvira to treat 50 Congolese who were severely burnt in a fire that claimed more than 230 lives in the nearby village of Sange, where an oil truck had overturned and caught fire. Winkler’s five-man squad was the first team of specialists to arrive in the district of South Kivu to treat the injured.

They were there with Daniel Saada, Israel’s ambassador to Congo, as an official delegation of the Israeli foreign ministries Mashav aid agency. The team crossed remote border crossings with ease under the supervision of South Kivu’s governor, Jean-Claude Kibala. The president of the Democratic Republic of Congo, Joseph Kabila, telephoned the delegation to thank them.

But the relationship with the volunteers of Medecins Sans Frontieres (Doctors Without Borders) Netherlands, who arrived at Uvira the previous week, began on a sour note, according to Winkler and the other Israeli specialists.

Winkler said he got the impression that some volunteers for MSF - which has accused Israel of war crimes and obstructing medical care for Palestinians - did not want to be around him or the other team members, Drs. Shmuel Kalazkin, Gil Gragov Nardini and Ariel Tessone, and nurse Noa Anastasia Ouchakova.

http://www.haaretz.com/news/features/israeli-doctors-in-congo-to-aid-burn-victims-get-slammed-for-occupation-1.302585

[Ken Burch]

1. OK. That's a nice thing.

n/t.

[aquart]

2. So the doctors are the bigots. How nice.

I knew the Congo was in no position to cast stones. Seems these fine doctors are.

[shira]

3. Not surprising that they're hateful pieces of shit.

[David__77]

4. Either accept the aid or do not - but do not accept it and then politicize it.

For instance, when Cuba offered the US medical aid after Katrina, the US formally turned it down. That was better than to accept it, and then criticize Cuba's social system to the aid delegates.

[shira]

5. Those from Congo were fine. It was the Western Doctors w/o Borders who were the problem.

[ProgressiveProfessor]

6. Groups seem to go diva from time to time. MSF needs to get back to business

[Alamuti Lotus]

7. The article is a load of insinuation and "impressions"

There has to be more to this, for the entire piece has hardly anything resembling the "hateful bigots" that some likely suspects would make it out to be.

[oberliner]

8. That is true

I certainly agree with you that there is nothing in the piece that suggests "hateful bigotry" - I do think it would be helpful to get an interview with the doctors in question to understand their perspective on this.

The Israeli doctors do feel that they have been treated coldly due to the fact that they are Israeli by the European doctors they were working with but more information would certainly give a fuller picture of the situation.

I am not sure, though, that the doctors in question would be able to go on the record stating their political views with respect to Israel and how it may or may not have impacted their relationship with those Israeli doctors.

[whosinpower]

9. So....

Because one of the doctors does not want to stay in the same room as two Israeli doctors citing illness as the cause.......
And another does not like the type of music the Israeli surgeon brought with them to play during surgery.......

This is bigotry? Puleeze......

You know, when a person is feeling insecure for whatever reason, it is very very easy to project negative feelings, and to imagine scenarios that fulfill their insecurity - whether it is real, or imagined.

This article should not of passed the editors desk. Vague impressions and dislike for music choice are NOT newsworthy. Where does it state the evidence of "slamming the occupation?" There is none. This is ridiculous. All it does is paint a false justification for more isolation. That the doctors went to Congo is newsworthy. That they helped the burn victims is newsworthy. But slamming the occupation? Where is the verifiable evidence that justified the title of the article? Music choice? Come on.....

[Violet_Crumble]

10. I totally agree. It's really shoddy jourmalism...

And given the knee-jerking responses calling the doctors bigots, this thread is a good example of who bothers to read articles and who doesn't...

[oberliner]

11. It's actually very good journalism

Just a poorly chosen title.

[Violet_Crumble]

13. It's actually pretty crappy...

From the poorly chosen title through to trying to build up someone's impressions of other people into something actually existing, it's low quality stuff...

[oberliner]

16. The journalist who wrote the article did not choose the title

The author seems to do a good job of getting quotes from all involved who were willing to speak on the topic and presents a pretty straightforward article about the perceptions these Israeli doctors had of their European counterparts and how they were able to work together successfully in spite of some initial tension.

It would have been helpful if the more of the MSF team members were given authorization to be interviewed for the article to get their perspective on the topic.

Can you give examples of how you think the author tried to "build up someone's impressions of other people into something actually existing"? I see no evidence of that in the piece.

[Violet_Crumble]

19. The articles riddled with insinuations and personal impressions

It's silly crap and Others in this thread have already explained why so I'm not repeating it again for you. I suggest you reread those posts and stop wasting peoples time.

[oberliner]

22. By the journalist or by the people being interviewed?

If you mean the journalist, then I would say that the only personal impression by the journalist in the article is the author's belief that "arguing loudly about politics" is a popular Israeli pastime. That seems pretty benign.

If you mean by the people being interviewed, there are certainly numerous examples of the personal impressions of the people interviewed, but that hardly makes it bad journalism. One component of the story is the fact that the Israeli doctors felt tension. Of course that is going to be based on their personal impressions.

The journalist provides additional information which suggests that the Israeli doctors' concerns may have been unfounded. Readers are free to draw their own conclusions, but I think the journalist does a very good job of providing as much information as possible in light of the fact that some of the people involved refused to be interviewed.

[oberliner]

12. Original Title: Israeli doctors strike tense alliance with Western doctors in Congo

Would your opinion change at all if the above was used as the title?

Remember that generally speaking the author of the article does not get to choose its title.

Whoever thought it was a good idea to switch from the reasonable original title to the current one ought to get the brunt of the criticism in my opinion.

Ha'aretz has a tendency to go through 2 or 3 or more titles for the same article in their online edition. I know other sources do as well, but Ha'aretz seems particularly egregious in this regard.

[whosinpower]

14. A better title, but still

Why is it newsworthy to write someone in the operating theatre did not like the music X doctor brought with them? SO WHAT?!?

Why is it newsworthy to write someone wanted to stay alone in their room instead of sharing because they were feeling ill? SO WHAT?!?

Here is what I think. I think a simple positive mission of Israeli doctors working in Congo will not grab as many Israeli eyeballs as a darker implication that those wonderful generous doctors were exposed to bigotry all the while performing their goodwill.

The final choice of title was a deliberate attempt to paint that dark intrinsic fear of bigotry to new levels. It is like some sort of psychological abuse heaped on the Israeli public. It is abuse.

Look - I know full well that there is bigotry in this world - but if the average Israeli citizen equates dislke for music as being bigotry - then they have been damaged psychologically. Maybe that should be the story.

[oberliner]

15. You make some good points

I do think that the title change represents an attempt by whatever editor made that change to try to reframe the article in a way that is inconsistent with its content.

The story of the article appears to be that there was tension at first between the Israeli doctors and the European doctors; however, in the time they were working together, they were able to "forge a partnership" and accomplish a great deal of good work.

[shira]

17. CONFIRMED - Israeli medical delegation in Congo takes heat while trying to soothe burns

<snip>

While the Israelis were treated well by the host country, the Doctors Without Borders team was apparently less receptive to their arrival.

The relationship between the Israelis with the NGO’s staff at Uvira was tense at first. “This is an emotional time, there are obvious political sensitivities,” said Dr. Geert Morren, a doctor from Belgium who arrived at Uvira with Doctors Without Borders Netherlands, after meeting the Israeli delegation.

Doctors Without Borders has repeatedly accused Israel of war crimes and obstruction of the organization’s efforts to help Palestinians. They also accused Israel of “devastating disregard” for civilians during its 2009 Gaza invasion.

“I wanted to come here to show that Israel is not the Flotilla country it’s painted out to be. It’s part of the vision of Professor Ze’ev Rothstein, the head of Sheba Medical Center,” Winkler said. “But beyond the political game going on, we saved lives and instructed local MDs. It makes me feel I chose the right profession.”

Winkler and the other members of the delegation said they felt the Doctors Without Borders staff treated them coolly and suspiciously at first, but added that the volunteers proved to be helpful and professional later on.

“If you want to know the effects of occupation, come see how doctors from international aid organizations treat a delegation of volunteer Israeli doctors to Congo like occupiers,” Winkler told Nati Harush, the foreign ministry’s deputy chief security officer who accompanied the delegation. Harush replied he wasn’t convinced this was the result of occupation.

Morren, a surgeon, and the rest of the Doctors Without Borders team declined to be interviewed for Haaretz about their experiences working with the Israelis, explaining they needed authorization from the head office, which has not replied to Haaretz’s request.

http://www.haaretz.com/print-edition/news/israeli-medical-delegation-in-congo-takes-heat-while-trying-to-soothe-burns-1.302693

[polly7]

18. There isn't one sentence in this article that confirms anything.

"The relationship between the Israelis with the NGO’s staff at Uvira was tense at first."

How so? Was there a verbal argument? A shoving match, insults, slurs, lack of co-operation?? ...... what exactly did you gain from this article that confirms they 'took heat'?

"Winkler and the other members of the delegation said they felt the Doctors Without Borders staff treated them coolly and suspiciously at first, but added that the volunteers proved to be helpful and professional later on.
“If you want to know the effects of occupation, come see how doctors from international aid organizations treat a delegation of volunteer Israeli doctors to Congo like occupiers,” Winkler told Nati Harush, the foreign ministry’s deputy chief security officer who accompanied the delegation. Harush replied he wasn’t convinced this was the result of occupation."

[shira]

20. Right. And when Haaretz asked the doctors, they claimed they were forbidden to speak.

In addition, Haaretz phoned the organization and never got a response back.

Nothing.

[polly7]

21. Ok, so there was nothing else. Thanks, I thought I must have missed it. nt.

[whosinpower]

23. Why did they go again?

snip - I wanted to come here to show that Israel is not the Flotilla country it’s painted out to be.

But beyond the political game going on, we saved lives and instructed local MDs. It makes me feel I chose the right profession.”


So - we have an Israeli doctor compelled to help the political image of his nation, and uses the Congo mission as a means to do so.

His perception from the outset was skewed. His altruism is partially politically motivated. That does not make his work any less relevant to the Congo burn victims, but.....

snip - “If you want to know the effects of occupation, come see how doctors from international aid organizations treat a delegation of volunteer Israeli doctors to Congo like occupiers,”

From another article - one of the doctors did not want to stay in the same room as two Israeli doctors citing illness as a reason. And someone did not like the music an Israeli doctor brought with him to play in the surgical theatre.

So.....one person is sick and wishes to stay alone in a room, and another does not like the music selection......and this doctor sees this as ill treatment because of the occupation.

snip - Harush wasn’t convinced this was the result of occupation.

Shira - the only thing this confirms is that the Israeli doctors have a fragile mindset. Perhaps THAT is the effect of the occupation after all. These sorts of articles reinforce that insecurity - and are almost psychological abuse heaped upon the Israeli public. Inflating dislike of music to "slamming the occupation" is ridiculous.

See here is the thing. It wasn't good enough that the doctors without borders and Israeli delegation overcame their concept of each other and professionalism took over and they managed to work together to save lives in Congo......that wasn't good enough. That sort of positive story.....won't garner that many eyeballs...so let's turn this article into making the good generous volunteer Israeli delegation into a victim.

So - Why did Doctors without Borders not choose to comment.....it could well be that their work is aimed at helping people and not taking political sides - and this Israeli doctor wanted to help people as well as make a political statement.

"I wanted to come here to show that Israel is not the Flotilla country it’s painted out to be."

[oberliner]

25. Breitbart-style quote cropping?

From the original:

“I came to save lives, but also because it’s important to me to show that Israel is not the Flotilla Country that it is painted out to be"

Turns into:

“I wanted to come here to show that Israel is not the Flotilla country it’s painted out to be."

Interesting change from the original article. Ha'aretz editors shifting a few pieces around to get the desired affect?

What was the exact quote, I wonder?

[whosinpower]

26. I don't know - but it is a good catch

You are correct - the original was different. Same author - I just went and reread both articles. Very different. No mention of not staying in the same room, or dislike of music in the second article - and the sentence was also changed...." I came to save lives....."

"Currying favor, facing Ostracism"

Makes no mention of details - only that DWB were cool and suspicious at first, but were helpful and professional later.....

[oberliner]

27. It seems like the editors and the author do not have the same idea about this article

From the various incarnations of the title to the way the article has been re-edited - it seems like Ha'aretz can't figure out how to spin this story.

Is it a positive story about Israeli and European doctors overcoming some initial tension to work together effectively in a difficult situation?

Or is it a story about Israelis who volunteer to work overseas facing perceived hostility from their European counterparts?

Someone at Ha'aretz seems to want to make it the latter, but in my view the author wanted to make it the former.

[whosinpower]

30. After reading your last post about Dr. Winkler

I wanted to edit my post - "Why did they go again", but the timeframe for editing has expired.

I retract my statement about the doctors mindset.

I think you are correct - Someone at Ha'aretz seems to want to make it the latter, but in my view the author wanted to make it the former.

[azurnoir]

24. some questions about this "episode"

just who were the Doctors from Israel? Were they "simply" volunteers or were they IDF reservists, whom much like Haiti were using the Congo as a "testing ground" for a new emergency medical response unit?

Doctors without Borders or Medicines Sans Fronteirs(sp) as it is known internationally does not seem to list Israel as one of their participating countries albeit they do list the OPT as a place where they have operated, in particularly after OCL in Gaza

http://www.msf.org/

this article sniffs of being a "hit piece" on the organization

[oberliner]

28. More about Dr. Winkler: 'Operation New Smile'

When Dr. Eyal Winkler, Dr. Yitzchak Zilinsky and Dr. Yigal Shochat, three experienced plastic surgeons from Israel's Sheba Medical Center arrived in Huancayo, Peru this past February, they knew what to expect. Waiting outside the rural local clinic were about 70 children, all suffering from some variation of cleft lip/ palate disorder.

Cleft lip/palate is a birth defect in which either the lip or the palate (roof of mouth) or both failed to close in the womb, leaving a separation that can affect eating, speech, and hearing. After hearing about the visit from the Israeli doctors, these children and their families flocked to the clinic, for free, quality treatment for the potentially life-threatening defect. For most of them, this would be their only opportunity.

The mission to Huancayo, in the Peruvian Andes, was the sixth cleft lip/palate mission to the developing world for Sheba. Winkler has been leading the Sheba team since 1998, when Interplast, an international organization providing free reconstructive surgery for people in developing nations, asked the hospital to join them on a mission to Katmandu, Nepal.

Winkler was one of three Sheba doctors who went to Nepal, and by the end of the week, he was hooked. After the Nepal mission, Winkler and Sheba administrators decided that they wanted to operate these missions on their own. As hospital CEO Dr. Ze'ev Rothstein explains "our policy is to extend help wherever it is needed."

So they created 'Operation New Smile' - with the goal of providing needed plastic surgery and medical care in the Third World. Operation New Smile's mission hinges on creating cooperative relationships with doctors and medical technicians in the countries where they work.

"It's not just I'm landing in Hanoi airport and I'm saying the great Dr. Winkler is here and bring me your kids," explains the jovial doctor with a smile. "We want to work together with them. It's a mission of cooperation, it's a mission of sharing techniques and assisting each other and learning and teaching at the same time," said Winkler.

http://www.mfa.gov.il/MFA/Israel+beyond+politics/Israeli%20doctors%20deliver%20new%20smiles%2028-May-2006

[azurnoir]

29. That does not eliminate either IDF reservist or political motivations

but it is a "nice" gesture all the same and most likely goes a ways in helping with Hasbara

[oberliner]

31. Your suspicions are noted

You may be able to get more information here:

http://eng.sheba.co.il/Contact_Us/

[azurnoir]

32. it is not the hospital or organization I am "suspicious" of

it is in fact Winkler who was the one who is being quoted in this article seems he had very little compunction in complaining to Haaretz, without of course taking into consideration how many of Israel's victims MSF has treated in the OPT and Gaza

[oberliner]

33. His contact info can be found at the hospital's website

That was why I provided you with that link.

[azurnoir]

34. why would I do that? to complain? Winkler statements speak for themselves n/t

[oberliner]

35. You wanted to know if he was an IDF reservist

Maybe you can send an email and ask.