Congratulations to the 71 British physicians who have recently made headlines for demanding that the World Medical Association (WMA) expel the Israeli Medical Association (IMA) from its ranks. Their baseless hatred and bizarre accusations – of Israeli physicians using medical knowledge to torture Arabs – would be too ridiculous to acknowledge if it weren’t part of a greater effort to delegitimize The Jewish State. As IMA representative Dr. Zeev Feldman responded, “The sword of the boycott has been raised against the scientific medical community in Israel.”
The WMA was founded in 1947 in the aftermath of World War II with the goals of “ensuring the independence of physicians” and promoting “the highest possible standards of ethical behavior and care by physicians.” The organization has since grown to include 111 national organizations of which only the Jewish State has been uniquely targeted by the scurrilous actions of anti-Israel advocates.
The sole identification of Israel for this abuse is particularly absurd given the nation’s reputation for providing disaster-stricken countries with emergency medical expertise and services. This has been well publicized following last year’s efforts in rescuing and treating victims of the Nepalese earthquake and other heroic actions such as the establishment of an advanced medical center for surgical procedures following the Japanese Tsunami of 2011. And it continues today with regular medical care of Syrian refugees.
If the field of academic medicine aims to build bridges between different cultures with the goals of furthering healthcare for all, Israeli physicians are certainly trailblazers. World-renowned Infectious Disease expert Dr. Eli Schwartz is known for his travels to Angola in order to treat UN troops and the care he provided for the leader of Eritrea. Opthalmology pioneer Dr. Saul Merin’s trips to Malawi in the 1960s later served as models for global health initiatives such as Doctors Without Borders and Partners in Health. Dr. Yoram Lass should also be mentioned for his dynamic work using recycled hemodialysis machines for industrial and agricultural purposes within developing African nations.
And for the sake of furthering cross-cultural dialogue through medicine, it will not be forgotten that Dr. Dan Kiesel served as the lead physician-trainer of the Pakistani National Cricket Team in spite of his heritage which caused an uproar amongst the Islamist branches of the government.
But for the 71 British physicians who seek to delegitimize Israel, no amount of loving-kindness or good deeds on the part of Israeli physicians will subdue their rage. One might wonder if these individuals are also boycotting the medical research of Israeli physicians including:
- Dr. Bernhard Zondek’s work in developing the first reliable human pregnancy test
- Dr. Zvi Laron’s revolutionary research in pediatric endocrinology and juvenile diabetes
- Dr. Marcelle Machluf’s cutting-edge development of medical nano-technology
- Drs. Avram Hershko and Aaron Ciechanover’s research in cellular homeostasis which was awarded The Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 2004
- Dr. David Danon’s pioneering efforts in the biology of aging
- Dr. Arieh Shalev’s fundamental work in the field of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
Having commemorated the passing of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., we are reminded of his famous statement, “When people criticize Zionists, they mean Jews…you’re talking anti-Semitism.” Or as I recently wrote in article about another academic boycott – from the American Anthropological Association and their intentionally-selective slander of the Jewish State – it doesn’t matter what the facts are, some people just hate Jews.
With their unscrupulous actions, these 71 British physicians have abandoned the WMA’s mission of promoting ethical behavior amongst doctors. In the end, they will be the ones who miss out as a result of their boycott calls. Through their bigotry, they have lost the opportunity to cooperate with top-notch colleagues engaged in life-saving research.
(12) Anonymous, January 29, 2016 1:52 PM
Muslims troll Jewish websites and insert views to upend narratives and hijack the subject
Artist Jessica Celious appears representative of this tactic -
the focus pt of the article take note thusly displaced!
(11) Dvirah, January 25, 2016 5:08 PM
Suggestion
What if people had to declare on their insurance forms if they support BDS & the boycotting of the IMA - and if they say "yes", neither they nor their doctors could be covered for any treatment or medical equipment originating from or even contributed to by an Israeli...so if they finally insist on those treatments, they would have to pay full price...the price of their hypocrisy!
(10) Joan, January 25, 2016 2:04 PM
Enough already
They haven't gotten over their anti Semitic feelings. They are probably failing with their medical. system so they are lashing out. Judging others by your own standards? I think not. I would travel to Israel for health care before I would step a foot into England
(9) samuel lotkin, January 25, 2016 1:04 PM
Typical British Anti semitsm
the UK has --for many centuries been a FORERUNNER of ANTI JEWISH hatred.
We do not know which 71 Doctors signed up BUT today there are MANY Muslim doctors -so a MIX of them plus the LIBERAL LEFT JEWISH haters who are EXTREMELY JEALOUS of the BRILLIANCY of the JEWISH DOCTORS and SCIENTISTS who are AMONGST the FINEST in all the world-Compared to what Islamic nations INPUT into the above compared to LITTLE ISRAEL--it is NO CONTEST--Israel 1000,s --Islam-ZERO
(8) Daniel Hughes, January 25, 2016 9:23 AM
Why not publish their names ?
As in Summary.
(7) Howard Sanshuck, January 25, 2016 12:34 AM
Fox News
Many media organizations are biased against Israel but Fox reports the news and they have billions of readers and listeners. So they report all the good that Israel does. Also what authority do these doctors have. I would use it as an excuse stop paying dues to the organization.
(6) Jan Bergman, January 24, 2016 11:45 PM
Israel doctors have donated time and expertise no matter who the person was
Horrible the anti-Semitsm that is spreading around the world that continues ?
(5) Debra, January 24, 2016 10:17 PM
WHY
These people are either evil or sick, maybe both. How much more can we endure ????
(4) Anonymous, January 24, 2016 5:54 PM
Those doctors look
They really look bizarre having cut their noses to spite their faces.
(3) Anonymous, January 24, 2016 4:48 PM
Why are the names of the 71 physicians publicized so we can ostracize and boycott these physicians.
Regina, January 24, 2016 10:50 PM
EXCELLENT IDEA
How can we get the list?
AM YISROEL CHAI.
(2) GIKR, January 24, 2016 4:08 PM
well-publicized?
"The sole identification of Israel for this abuse is particularly absurd given the nation’s reputation for providing disaster-stricken countries with emergency medical expertise and services. This has been well publicized following last year’s efforts in rescuing and treating victims of the Nepalese earthquake and other heroic actions such as the establishment of an advanced medical center for surgical procedures following the Japanese Tsunami of 2011. And it continues today with regular medical care of Syrian refugees."
"WELL-PUBLICIZED?" Where? By whom? On Israeli websites and in Jewish media? On the very occasional tiny piece on CNN or in a small story on page 6 in the NY Times? I rarely - IF EVER - see these stories in the mainstream media that everyone, not just Jews, read. And I very much doubt these ignorant, bigoted professional associations have much exposure to the stories from people they trust.
I am not making excuses for their absurd bias and anti-semitism, but when will we wake up and stop preaching to the converted? Why is this story coming from Aish HaTorah and not a front-line story on major networks? And by the way,how much does al-jazeera know about all these world-wide Israeli life-saving missions and medical breakthroughs?
Anonymous, January 25, 2016 2:43 AM
Then DO something
So then use you media contacts to have this article reprinted in the local/national papers...or find away to get the author to speak or write for a bigger stage!!?!!??
(1) Steve, January 24, 2016 12:40 PM
Forget these guys
The bds movement is full of haters who will go the way of the other haters...no one knows about the ancient Babylonians or Greeks, the Cossacks are gone and the Nazis and Communists fell...in the end the Jewish people only grow stronger...it's happening!!!