IDF Doctors Heal the Enemy

While home alone in his Ramallah village, Shadi had fallen from the railing-free 3rd floor of his home directly onto his head.  [A] cousin had found him lying on the ground unconscious and brought him to the army base because he had heard there was a doctor and medical facilities on the grounds.

“I decided to radio for a military helicopter and evacuate the child to an Israeli hospital,”  [Dr.] Poran continues.  “He had clearly suffered brain damage and needed the type of acute care he couldn’t get at Ramallah Hospital.  It was a risk - having a helicopter land there outside the gate. There’s vulnerability to sniper fire and attack from surrounding hillsides.  We were all at risk working on him out there in the open surrounded by Arab villages. ”

But the Orthodox Jewish physician made a life-saving medical decision based upon professionalism. “Yes, I am religious,” he quietly offers, eyes slightly clouding. “But if I see a wounded 14-year-old boy it doesn’t matter that he’s Palestinian.  I don’t ask questions.  It was as if he was my own son. You don’t not take care of a kid.”

Read the whole thing here.

This is a must read story by Stephanie L. Freid that is up over at Pajamas Media.  Sadly, the people who desperately need to see it probably won't. 

A huge hat tip to Allison for pointing me to this.