Two Hornell Doctors 8 Miles Apart in a War Zone

Justin Head of the Evening Tribune (Hornell NY) reports:

Hornell, N.Y. - Eight miles apart and a world of difference.

The Tribune reported on Dr. Ismail Mehr’s 10-day humanitarian trip to Gaza City on Feb. 4, and what revelations he had from his experiences, but a look into the perspective of someone on the other side of the conflict shows a different point of view.

A few days after Mehr’s story was published, Dr. Stephan Greenberg of Hornell — an opthalmologist and also a staff member of St. James Mercy Hospital — revealed he was only a few miles from Mehr on the Israeli side during the conflict.

“We are not talking places that are a million miles away from each other. I can be sitting down at the beach and looking at Gaza. We are talking about a war between Hornell and Dansville or even closer, probably between five to eight miles. On a clear day you can see everything going on at the other side,” said Greenberg.

Greenberg was in Israel from Jan. 16 to Feb. 2, visiting his mother-in-law after a hip replacement. He was in Ashkelon when Palestinian rockets battered areas as close to a half of a mile from a home he owns there.

“On the first Saturday that we were there we were rocketed twice and I had to take cover. I slept in the basement that night,” said Greenberg. He said streets were abandoned, business were closed and people changed their routines, staying closer to home and curtailing their normal routines.

Greenberg has owned a home in Ashkelon for about 30 years and visits there frequently. His daughter, Galit Greenberg, is a Israeli lawyer and graduate of Hornell High School.

Mehr, an anesthesiologist, and also a Hornell High graduate, was surprised when he found out Greenberg was so close to him.

“He was in Ashkelon, really, from where I was I could see the Israeli drones flying over there,” said Mehr when he was told of his colleague’s whereabouts.

Greenberg was a member of the United States Navy for 20 years and retired a captain. He was a liaison to the Israeli Navy and has several connections in Israel. Greenberg started a residency program in the Tel Hashomer Sheba Medical Center and visited colleagues during his trip. He wants people to understand that during the latest military conflict Israel was provoked.

“I pose this question: how would the United States respond to a rocket sent over to Buffalo from Canada?” said Greenberg, adding, “No one reports how the Israeli troops hit houses with bombs that were not armed to warn the people to run.”

He thinks the media is biased and that reporting in the area is bad. On this view Mehr is in agreement, but that is probably one of the few. The doctors both said they respect each other but conversations with them reveal they have different accounts of the circumstances in the area. Greenberg insisted that Israel opens up its border frequently to care for patients.Mehr took a differing stance.

“Fortunately, I was present in Gaza and spoke with many physicians and had the opportunity to treat many patients. A majority of my patients were children with cancer and ware denied entry into both Egypt and Israel. The embargo did not allow for medical supplies to come in and thus these children were dying a slow grueling death. I think on the other side there are a few exceptions of individuals being allowed access for medical care but the numbers just don’t add up. Once again as a doctor my goal is to shed light on the embargo. I hope that this embargo is lifted so that humanitarian teams and medical specialists can help the courageous doctors and nurses of Gaza,” said Mehr in an email.

Gaza is restricted for all the right reasons, according to Greenberg. “Think of the Los Angelos gangs taking over,” said Greenberg, explaining that members of Hamas, the region’s elected government, fire rockets into civilian locations in Israel and use innocent people as shields.

“What do you expect when they put themselves inside a civilian population?” said Greenberg of reports of Gazans horrifically injured during the military operations.

Mehr cared for some of these injured people during his trip and Greenberg appreciated his effort.

“He put aside personal fear as part of the practice of his faith and he went to places that are dangerous and difficult to live in to help people in trouble. This is a guy that went to Pakistan after the earthquake, into seriously dangerous conditions and you can’t help but respect a guy like that, for going and doing what he thinks is the right thing to do,” said Greenberg.

At least they both agree on respect for one another.

“Dr. Greenberg has known me since I was a toddler and I have a great amount of respect for him. He’s a dear colleague. I am sure he knows that,” said Mehr.

2/18/09 Coverage

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