Earthquake aid for Iran

As we are all aware by now, Iran got hit with a fairly deadly earthquake last week. They called for aid from the international community... with the exception of Israel.

Government spokesmen said that foreign aid workers would not need entry visas and that aid would be welcome from everywhere but Israel. In a televised address, President Mohammad Khatami urged on rescue efforts, thanked the nations that were sending aid and said he was preparing to leave for Bam.

Now, this didn't bother me much at first. Everyone knows that the arabs are heavily prejudiced against Israel in all regards, and this was just one more example. So what.

However, the more I think about it, this refusal of aid is a big deal. This was a chance for Israel and Iran to develop some ties that did not revolve around war or the palestinian situation. It was a chance for a few Iranians to see Israelis as humans, not just as some stereotyped zionist entities... and the opportunity was completely destroyed by Iran.

It would not have cost them a thing, except maybe they might have been forced to reciprocate if Israel ever got hit by an earthquake... but thats how peace really forms... in small steps.

It just puts another nail into the coffin of the idea that the arabs ever actually want to come to a peaceful agreement with Israel. If you are not even willing to accept help during a time of crisis, why would you ever accept peace when there is no crisis?