Israel's News & Views Blog
Khalegh Ali village, 400 km south west of Tehran, after the earthquake of April 1, 2006. (Credit: Morteza Nikoubazl/Reuters)
Ynet has an interesting story today about cooperation between Iran and Israel. It seems that, while Ahmadenijad has targeted Israel as his number one enemy, the picture behind the scenes is quite different.
In recent weeks the Muslim republic has been enjoying the skills of Israeli experts recruited to help with rehabilitating the country after recent earthquakes have caused massive damages and devastation.
Three Israeli infrastructure consultants who returned to Israel at the end of the week from a secret visit in Iran on the invitation of a Tehran official, told Israel’s leading daily Yedioth Ahronoth they were stunned by their stay in the country.
According to one of the Israeli engineers who traveled to Iran and is quoted in the article, the group was given the red carpet treatment in the Islamic Republic.
“Upon arriving at the airport in Tehran we were greeted by a government employee… from there we were taken to a luxurious hotel located near the Jewish district. We were escorted by a security guard during our entire stay.”
They were even taken to visit Busher, the area that has been much in the news lately because it is the location of the nuclear reactor.
The Israelis were invited by the Jewish community to participate in a Passover seder.
“They knew we were from Israel, although we did not mention it out loud. There were matzos and plenty of food and wine, everything you need for Pesach. The Jews there live their lives uninterrupted. They engage in trade and have their synagogues. However, since the new president’s ascension to power, the atmosphere is definitely tense and the authorities guard the synagogues,” he said.
Last year Orly Azoulay, a Ynet reporter, traveled to Iran and described her meetings with the local Jewish community here.
Also last year, a delegation from Faith of Reconcilation (FOR), an inter-faith group, visited Iran. There’s a report about their visit to a synagogue in Tehran, and their meeting with Iranian Jews, here.
FOR delegates with leaders of the Iranian Jewish community inside a Tehran synagogue.
I really cannot help wondering why the Iranian government would knowingly hire Israeli engineers to help them repair the post-earthquake damage. Surely there are good Iranian engineers, or if not then engineers from other countries? On the other hand, I’ve seen Israeli and Palestinian politicians who are supposed to hate each other, according to their public statements to the media, sit down and have a civilized discussion over coffee or a meal. So who knows?
One thing I’m pretty sure about: this story is a great publicity coup for Israel.
4 Comments
Israel, your strength and willingness to reach out and help the stricken is nothing short of Divine!
Hallelu Yah! For the apple of His eye!
Lisa, OneJerusalem-
Thank you for this story. It should be carried by every news station, internationally!
Thank You, Lisa. I pray that these events and not the hate rhetoric of Iran’s current leader, show the true face of Iran.
This story about Israeli engineers assisting
the Iranians in rebuilding their stricken areas,
is one of many similar stories of Israelis
helping other Muslim countries in many projects,
their ego is too big to admit it.
It is sad to see how fanatic Muslims and their
appointed lunatic leaders prevent peaceful and
normal useful relations from developing between
Israel and Iran.
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