Israeli official speaks at IU

Israeli Deputy Consul General to the Midwest, Andy David lectured in the Indiana Memorial Union's Georgian Room Thursday night at 7 p.m. David's message focused on informing students about MASHAV, Israel's center for International Cooperation within the ministry of foreign affairs. \nMASHAV assists developing countries in improving agriculture, combating desertification, empowering women and aiding in disaster relief. \n"We are a small country, and our resources are very limited. We are mostly concerned with things that are within human capacity," David said.\nHe described the goals of the center in detail, citing specific examples of regions where MASHAV has been beneficial.\n"We look at what's happening in different countries, find something we're good at, and that's what we do," he said. \nHuman resource capability building was at the top of MASHAV's list of goals. Through partnerships with countries in Africa, Latin America, Asia, Oceania and the Middle East, the Center initiates projects that teach important skills. \nDavid reported that in a dairy in Cholpon Ata, Kyrgyzstan, MASHAV taught workers how to use their leftover milk product to make cheese. In Uzbekistan, MASHAV developed a commercial forestry operation in an area that had previously been too salinated to grow plant life. \nLong-term sustainability is another important goal for MASHAV.\nDavid said, "We don't believe in coming to underdeveloped countries for three months and then leaving. Mentality is one of the most important things to change."\nMASHAV works with 113 countries and employs 2,347 aide workers, some volunteers. There are nine agribusiness consulting centers and 19 research programs.\nInternational cooperation is also a political tool, said David. He described the partnerships between different nations in relation to the benefits they would bring to Israel. \n"These co-ops are a combination between a practical thing, but also an altruistic thing. You give to others and don't expect something back, but if your neighbors aren't hungry, you're better off," he said.\nAlthough David acknowledged that some countries refuse aid from MASHAV for political reasons, he mentioned that the Palestinian Authority does cooperate. The discussion of current relations between Israel and Palestine was saved for the question and answer session. During this time, David was asked a number of questions dealing with controversial issues.\nHe was asked whether Israel was alienating itself with the construction of what it calls a "security fence." \n"The United Nations is telling Israel not to build an anti-terror fence, but they're not telling the terrorists to stop the terror," David replied.\nHe went on to say Israel has good relations with many countries but some of those are too intimidated by the United Nations to openly support his country.\nDavid was also questioned about the accusations that Israel was spying on the Pentagon.\n"There is no Israeli espionage in the United States. (Lawrence Franklin, the accused spy,) did not have access to anything Israel didn't already have access to," he said.\nSenior Sarah Lawson was pleased to see an expanded view of Israel being presented.\n"A lot of students came here thinking this was going to be the same conflict dialog, and it turned out to be a completely different perspective about the beneficial things MASHAV is doing," she said. "There are a lot of students here that we don't always see and that got this new angle."\nJessie Mallor, the director of Jewish student life for the Helene G. Simon Hillel Center, was impressed with the subject matter. \n"I was awed by the breadth and depth of the projects he spoke about. It was disappointing to hear that Israel is ready for more humane partnerships and is turned away for political reasons," she said.\n-- Contact staff writer Brittany Terwilliger at bterwill@indiana.edu .