Steve, you and Kim du Toit (and most on the right) both seem to have a psychological complex where you think anything even remotely involving Israel is anti-semitic. The fact is that Israel is guilty of more human rights violations than nearly any other nation on earth (save for North Korea, Russia, China, etc.).

Denying aid after such a catastrophe does seem rather short sighted but it's completely understandable that they would spurn any contact with a nefarious body like the Israeli government. It has nothing to do with their religion.

All right wingers need to understand that a challenge to Israel (espionage, human rights, weapons sales, etc.) is not in any way indicative of anti-semitism.

If you need some material on their egregious crimes or if you just want to discuss the issue, you have my e-mail address.

The fact is that Israel is guilty of more human rights violations than nearly any other nation on earth (save for North Korea, Russia, China, etc.).

Yet you didn't name a single one.

Israeli Forces Destroy Homes to Clear Palestinians from Border
Israel: Budget Discriminates Against Arab Citizens
Israel: West Bank Barrier Violates Human Rights
Israel/Occupied Territories: Excessive use of force
Israel/Occupied Territories: Israeli army must respect human rights in its operations
Israel/OT: Knesset's approval of discriminatory law unacceptable

There's a handful of recent violations from two credible sources (Amnest International, Human Rights Watch). I didn't think it was necessary to elaborate on a summary post especially since I mentioned my e-mail was available if information was required.

Most people don't know about Israel's vices, especially since the only things reported on the news involving Israelis are suicide bombings.

I didn't think it was necessary in a summary post especially since I said that if more information were required, you had my e-mail address. But I'm willingly to oblige on behalf of your curtness. Here are a handful of human rights violations occuring within the last year from the two foremost human rights canaries -- Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International.

Mass Home Demolitions in the Gaza Strip

Israel: Budget Discriminates Against Arab Citizens

Israel: Release Rights Activist Immediately

Israel/Occupied Territories: Excessive use of force

Israel/Occupied Territories: Israeli army must respect human rights in its operations

Israel/Occupied Territories: Families torn apart by discriminatory policies

Related...

Israel admits it spied on US (BBC)

Economist tallies swelling cost of Israel to US(CSM)

Israel's weapons exports skyrocket, making it friends and money (SF GATE)
...
US 'anger' at Israel weapons sale (BBC)

Hopefully that sheds some non-neo-con light on Israel.

Sorry about the late reply, I've been out of town.

Spenser, you need to reexamine your premise. You claim that this aid is being turned down because of alleged human rights violations, and not because of religion. (As an aside, whether or not these violations actually occurred is irrelevant to this argument, because the perception is what matters in this case.) You then state that Israel is percieved as one of the worst violators, after Russia and China, among a few others. These are the same Russia and China that Sri Lanka has accepted aid from. By your logic, they would have also declined aid offered by these countries, which they most certaionly did not do.