Should Israel Send Aid to Arab Revolutionaries?

Protest poster against Quadaffi in recent days. From Haaretz.co.il story, 22-Feb-11

Cuba and France were known in Africa for sending doctors during civil wars and revolutions. Once in a while they would also send soldiers to fight on one side or to stop massacres. As a whole, African revolutionaries would not turn down medical aid from outside countries. Israel has helped people in crisis all around the world. Earthquakes, tsunamis, famine and war are times where people simply need help. So Israelis go, no matter what happens between governments and politicians. If the Libyan and Bahrainian clashes turn into full blown civil wars, should Israel intervene? Most Israelis would say ABSOLUTELY YES. There are plenty of countries willing to help Arab revolutionaries. I am sure that once again France and certainly Italy will send medical aid to Libyans. In the Persian gulf states probably the Iranians will want to jump in. But India is also close by and has a good medical system with well trained doctors and nurses. Will Bahrain even allow Israeli doctors to land and treat their injured? I would like to think that the answer is YES.

Israel faces a different dilemma: "would medical aid to Arab revolutionaries make a difference in future relationships?" It may make a big difference. It will certainly bring in good press around the world. It will also show neighboring countries a side of Israel they have not seen. The real Israel is made up of people who care about other people. Not the official line from their dictators, with the veil of hate against the Israeli government. The real question is how much the Arab world would change. Will the middle classes in these countries really build democracies and keep them in place? Will most of the Arab population support democratically elected governments? Will elected officials take on democratic responsibilities and keep an open government structure? It is hard to say, but from the way Arab countries have been developing my bet is on the people. Most Arab countries have a majority of educated population which lives a modern life. For the most part, Arab leaders have not kept modern communication from their people. Arab leaders have also not kept other modern lifestyle elements like transportation, technology, culture (literature, music) and most of all access to modern democracies around the world. A well educated Libyan or Yemenite professional has an ability to visit Asia and Europe just as much as any western European professional. In some countries, like the Persian gulf emirates I would argue they have even more access to outside information. There they are trying to make their geographic location an asset: a bridge between the east and west. Let's see where these developments take the Arab countries. I am sure that many people around the world are cheering for these countries to become democratic and join people around the world in open societies.