Israel Matzav

There has to be a better way

This post is being written live. I am still awake at 3:00 am. I've decided to write this post, which will be highly critical of the 'system' here in Israel, in the hope of embarrassing the State of Israel enough to change it. None of the Israelis will be surprised by this story - we all know that these things happen. But I think that those of you abroad will be appalled.

A bit after 2:00 am my phone rang. Even I don't normally get calls on my Israeli phone at 2:00 am. The caller was a friend who was supposed to leave for the US tonight. He was stuck at the airport.

No, the weather here is fine. There are no wars or earthquakes. No tornadoes, hurricanes or snowstorms. My friend had an order against him (which was taken out ex-parte - without him being present) that forbids him from leaving the country. No, he didn't commit a crime. He owed someone money - about NIS 6,300 (probably $1700 or so at today's exchange rates).

My friend's son had paid the money on his father's behalf earlier today. The problem is that the son paid the money by credit card and all he had was a confirmation number. No receipt. Not that the authorities would have accepted a receipt anyway. I spoke to the authorities. The woman from the Interior Ministry told me that she had already tried taking the story to her superiors, but to no avail. They would only accept one of two things: (Another) NIS 6,300 in cash or an original written order canceling the order that forbids my friend from leaving the country. The ATM's here don't release more than NIS 2,500 at a pop. Where would anyone get that kind of money in cash at this hour of the night? The last I heard, there was a collection being taken up in the town where two of my friend's daughters live, which is close to the airport. If they get enough money, someone will get into a taxi and take it to the airport. If the plane doesn't leave first.

You see - and no, I am not making this up and it isn't an appeal for money which couldn't get here in time anyway - my friend doesn't live in Israel. He moved back to the States about four years ago because his daughter was undergoing chemotherapy there. His daughter passed away six months ago. While his daughter was in chemotherapy, my friend discovered that he too had the dreaded disease, God save him. And now he's undergoing treatment. He came here for a few days to see his children and grandchildren who live here (most of his children and all of his grandchildren live here) between rounds.

My friend spent last night in an Israeli hospital with low blood counts and a fever. And he's supposed to be in the US Thursday morning for another round of chemotherapy. So the Israelis are being really nice to him: They have held up an entire 747 for three hours to give him the opportunity to come up with the money or the cancellation order. Yes, really. I will bet that none of the people on that plane know why they're spending the entire night sitting on the runway - and if they did, they'd probably take up a collection and pay my the stupid NIS 6,300. But they have no idea.

I even tried calling the after-hours emergency number at the American embassy. I spoke to a lovely young lady who told me that there is probably nothing they can do to help my friend get out of the country, although they can make sure he gets the medical care he needs while he is here.

Our rabbis tell us that Jews are supposed to be merciful, bashful and doers of good deeds. Sometimes, this country just doesn't get it.

Labels: Ben Gurion Airport, cancer victims, chemotherapy

posted by Carl in Jerusalem @ 2:58 AM