Israel Slow to Admit Gaza Patients, U.N. Says
By ISABEL KERSHNER
Published: April 3, 2008
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/04/03/world/middleeast/03mideast.html?_r=1&ref=middleeast&oref=slogin

Summary:

Recently, the World Health Organization stated that due to Israeli restrictions many Palestinians have died and suffered from medical problems. The Organization claimed to have received reports indicating that Israel has denied entry to 18.5% of applicants in 2007 whereas in 2006 less than 10% of applicants were denied entry. Although a great number of complaints have accumulated from the Gazans, Israel claims to have drastically increased the number of permits permitted to medical patients wanting entry from the Gaza strip. A possible reason why more applicants were denied was from the closing of Gaza's boarder to Egypt and the limited amount of hospital beds in supply.

Reaction:

A) This article relates to the AP World History theme of Development and Interaction of Cultures, because the Israelis and Palestinians have been causing conflicts together due to the fact that they are neighboring each other and struggling for the same lands. Also, the two different cultures are trying to co-exist in the same region which is difficult and causing high tensions in the region.
B) Tensions between Israel and Palestine have been brewing for hundreds of years since nearly the beginning of each others existence. The Jews and Muslims have been fighting over rights to the Holy Land for centuries and its never going to stop, only going to worsen due to technology and terrorism.
C) The author of this article is Isabel Kershner, a female British-born author writing for the New York Times reporting from Jerusalem. Kershner is also Jewish and is married to an Israeli author.
D) Although not much bias was evident in this article, Kershner is of Jewish background and is married to an Israeli so probably is in favor of Israel. She had in fact stated accurate reports bashing Israel and showed the point of view of Palestinians living in the Gaza strip. However, Kershner did somewhat defend Israel and supported what may be possible reasoning for the increase of permits being denied to medical patients.

E) To create a clearer understanding of the issue, it probably would have been helpful to hear from the point of view of an Israeli Hospital or medical care service to understand why they claim to not have enough room for the Palestinian patients, and if that even is the case at all. Also, Israeli medical staff may disapprove or approve of having more patients treated from the Gaza Strip and it would be interesting to hear whether they believe the government should approve more patients or not.
F) I personally believe that Israel should approve everyone of medical permits who seriously are in need of them because it should be a human right to be able have accessible health care for people and their families, not matter what background you come from. However, I do understand Israel's reasoning for creating limitations for health care and medical permits. To avoid conflict I think that the best possible solution would to devote a hospital in Israel strictly for Gaza patients and allow anyone in need of medical assistance in the State. It doesn't help though that Gaza is consistently threatening Israel's well being, preventing civil relations between the two even when it consists of issuing innocent medical permits to Gaza citizens.


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