Put out our fire and go back to where you came from!

Ami Kaufman By Ami Kaufman December 14, 2010 | Edit
Doesn’t matter how you look at it, or what excuses you come up with. It’s just plain embarrassing
Put out our fire and go back to where you came from!
The fire on the Carmel
So, how embarrassed was I when I read this news item today, about Palestinian firemen who helped put out the fire in the Carmel but were refused entry to Israel to honor their efforts? On a scale of 1-10 , it sent violent shivers down my spine, making it an 11.

And the PA reaction even makes us look worse. We could use a lesson or two in diplomacy from these guys:

“It’s not clear how the same firefighters who got permits to go out and help snuff the fire now are now refused permits to their honoring ceremony,” said the PA.

“We did this despite the occupation because it was our humane duty,” it added. “We knew the occupation would still be here after our assistance.”

Even if the excuses of a “technical mistake” are true, it embarrasses me just as much. Doesn’t matter how you look at it – either they were barred entrance due to “intentional occupation” or “mistaken occupation”. Neither of them are acceptable.
Ami Kaufman

Ami Kaufman was chief night editor for Haaretz, for the prominent Israeli financial daily Calcalist, and correspondent on Israeli affairs for 93.6 RAM FM, a joint Palestinian-Israel radio station. His interest in food and cooking led to culinary studies at the "Israeli CIA" (Tadmor, Herzliya) and a brief stint in the restaurant business. Born in Tel Aviv, Ami lives in Bat Yam with his wife and two daughters. In his spare time he blogs at Half & Half.

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