World View
Global Dispatches From ABC News Reporters
ABC News staff around the world report on what makes the news and what doesn't.
RECENT POSTS
MONTHLY ARCHIVES
« Previous | Main | Next »
Iranian Boy to Undergo Lifesaving Surgery in Israel
October 08, 2008 9:04 AM
By Simon McGregor-Wood, Correspondent & Bureau Chief, ABC News Jerusalem
The two countries are sworn enemies.
The Iranian president has even threatened to wipe Israel off the map.
Israel is thought to be rehearsing an attack on Iran’s nuclear facilities.
But now a rare glimpse of hope and cooperation has emerged over the fate of a very sick child.
Israel’s daily newspaper Yedioth Aharanot reported today that a 12-year-old Iranian boy suffering from brain cancer would be arriving in Israel this week for lifesaving treatment.
The unnamed boy has already undergone surgery in Tehran and was later sent to a hospital in Turkey, but the medical staff in Ankara soon realized they were not equipped to deal with the severity of the boy’s condition.
The Turkish doctors suggested the boy’s family take the highly unusual step of seeking medical help in Israel.
After the special intervention of the Israeli Minister of the Interior, Meir Sheetrit, and the cooperation of the country’s intelligence agencies, permission was granted for the boy to come to Israel -- initially for a two-week stay. The newspaper says he will arrive Friday.
“We are the light upon the nations,” said Sheetrit, “and when a child’s life is at stake religion and origin pay no part. If we can help we are more than willing to do so.”
According to the newspaper, the boy will be treated at the Sheba Medical Center near Tel Aviv, where specialists have already studied the boy’s medical file.
Read more from Simon McGregor-Wood
Read more World View Blogs from ABC News staff
October 8, 2008 in Simon McGregor-Wood | Permalink | User Comments (7)
You can follow this conversation by subscribing to the comment feed for this post.
"The Iranian president has even threatened to wipe Israel off the map."
Long-debunked disinformation based on deliberate mistranslation. The Jerusalem Bureau Chief knows better than to perpetuate this lazy lie.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2006/jun/14/post155
"...when a child’s life is at stake religion and origin pay no part."
The Palestinian children of Gaza will be very glad to hear that.
Posted by: ariel | Oct 8, 2008 9:35:08 AM
Maybe, just maybe Ahmadenijhad will consider that a people with this goodness at their core do not deserve to be constantly threatened with extermination.
Posted by: hopesprings52 | Oct 8, 2008 9:57:15 AM
This is a pretty nice gesture. I hope once he goes back he doesn't get bombed by the US or Israel.
Posted by: Jim | Oct 9, 2008 5:35:57 PM
No one can judge all a nation just because a party say something. The problem between Israel and Iran is not the only problem of Israel. All Islamic nations have no relation with Israel. It is their policy and it is not something new. Being fair or not, we cannot judge. Because it roots in old age when none of us was there.
Maybe most the poeple do not know but Iran have no problem with Jewish. What the government could not accept, it's completely politicals and between two both governments. We have a lot of respectful Jewish who are living in neighboure.
This kids, as I heard is one of our Jewish people who needs both government's help.
Hope all of us could be HUMAN.
Posted by: Mehrnaz | Oct 14, 2008 12:06:47 AM
It's ironic that the country that saved the Jews from Babylon is such a mess right now. Israel isn't helping much, either.
Posted by: Rafael | Oct 15, 2008 9:00:38 AM
It is better to know that we saved Jwish once more too. During Holucuat Iranian's embassy in German issued Iranian passport for Jwish and send themout of Germant as Iranian to a safe place in Israel.
It's just about time and about policy. I have some more to write but I can't say anything online.
Rafael would you send me an email to maryb323208@yahoo.com
Thanks. I hope receive your response andcan talk you more freely.
Posted by: Mehrnaz | Oct 15, 2008 1:02:02 PM
my correct email is maryb323208@yahoo.com
Posted by: Mehrnaz | Oct 15, 2008 1:12:49 PM
Post a comment
