Palestine, Israel and Infertility

So, how's that for a title? Did I grab your attention?

Let me begin by saying that I am going to state some opinions in this post on a particular situation, but I do not believe nor assume that all Palestinians, Arabs or Muslims feel the same way.

Last night, I watched an HBO documentary called Precious Life. It was filmed in 2008 (the summer when the Palestinians and Israels were hurling bombs at one another) and made by an Israeli war correspondent who had contacts in Palestine.

Through his contacts, he heard about a Palestinian couple who had given birth to a baby boy with no immune system. They had previously given birth to two girls who died from similar genetic complications.

Their Palestinian doctor believed a bone marrow transplant could save the boy's life. The Palestinian couple appealed to their own people and the government, but no one would help. Consequently, their Palestinian doctor contacted this doctor in Israel and they were able to get this couple and their four month old son into Israel for treatment.

Since the couple had no money, the Israeli reporter began to publicize the story to raise the $55k required for treatment. Before he could get too far, an anonymous Israeli gentleman who had recently lost his son in the conflict donated the entire sum. The couple was overcome with joy.

Without going into all the details, the reporter called in favor-after-favor to move blood samples and family members across the border to save this little boy's life (remember, they're fighting, so security is extra tight).

At one point, the boy's mother said that it's been her lifetime dream to visit the mosque in Jerusalem, so the reporter pulls some strings again and takes her there. Even though she's not allowed in the mosque because she had given birth recently, you can tell this is a significant experience for her.

They eventually get onto the subject on a Palestinian homeland and the reporter says what if we were to split Jerusalem? She says, without hesitation, nope - Jerusalem should be 100% Palestinian. Palestinians are not afraid of death and she is going to encourage all of her children (including this son) to fight for the cause and even sacrifice his life as a suicide bomber if that's what it takes!!!

Her son made a recovery and they returned to Palestine with a taxi filled with gifts - new stroller, a layette, etc. This couple has three other children - two sons and a daughter.

When the baby was about ten months old, he had complications - so they return to Israel and guess what?!!! The wife is eight months pregnant again!!!! The Israelis convince her to stay in the country long enough to give birth so that if this baby is born without an autoimmune system, maybe they can save this baby's life too. The reporter is bold enough to ask "why did you get pregnant again if you knew this was a possibility?" The wife replied, "Well, I have no control-the husband makes all the decisions." Then the husband admits, "Yeah. That probably wasn't a good idea."

So, why can this (fill in the blank) couple have children so easily and not think twice about raising them to kill the very people who saved them, while so many of us have to fight the horrible, heartbreaking battle of infertility?!

This is just another example of why the US needs to continue to support Israel.

PS - The older baby made a recovery and the newborn was born in Israel and was found to have an immuine system.