April 7 was World Health Day, a global health awareness day observed by all member states of the World Health Organization. Last year, when the theme was celebrating nurses and midwives, nobody could have known that our world would have been plagued by the deadly infectious coronavirus. Given the unprecedented and historical nature of the global health events of this year, we would like to extend our celebration to all medical personnel.
Nurses, doctors, midwives, paramedics and all other medical personnel have been on the frontlines in our global fight to defeat coronavirus. Since January, they have been working tirelessly and risking their lives to treat the many thousands (now over a million) people infected with coronavirus. Healthcare workers and the individuals supporting them deserve our utmost support, admiration and gratitude.
This is a crisis that we the human race will overcome through worldwide cooperation. The United Nations has just unanimously adopted a resolution titled “Global solidarity to fight the coronavirus disease 2019.” This historical resolution was signed by 188 countries, pledging their cooperation to fight the pandemic. This is a major global first step of many that are sure to follow.
Israel is currently setting an incredible, honorable example during this crisis. Israel and the Palestinian Authority have been able to work together during this time. The Sheba Medical Center in Tel Hashomer has been training doctors from the West Bank to fight coronavirus. The Israeli and Palestinian health ministries have been cooperating extensively, setting aside their many disagreements and historical conflict to come together.
Our global focus should be on working together and not casting blame on each other. Unsubstantiated claims by high-ranking government officials and entitities, ranging from the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps to antisemitic extremists in Europe and the United States, saying that Israel and Jews are spreading coronavirus only divides the world. Antisemitism will not accomplish anything, let alone defeat the virus.
Israel’s actions should be a beacon of hope for the rest of the world. If Israel and the Palestinian Authority can work together, then the rest of the world is more than able to as well.
All countries in the Middle East and beyond should avoid unnecessary, divisive actions and should instead come together to defeat the coronavirus. We are strongest together, and together we can defeat this pandemic. We will come out of this crisis more resilient and united than ever.
The writers are members of The Ambassadors’ Club of Israel.