A visit to an Israeli hospital and an encounter with the facts was an educational experience for the publisher of anti-Israel accusations. He stands corrected.
After three days in Israel, during which the publisher of anti-Israel lies and bias faced the facts, he announced that he stood corrected, as his visit to Israel was “a turning point for me and my relationship with this region.”
Professor Richard Horton, editor of the prominent The Lancet medical journal, which published an extremely venomous ‘open letter’ accusing Israel of war crimes and crimes against humanity during Operation Protective Edge, was invited by Rambam Health Care Campus (RHCC) in Haifa to learn the truth about the way Palestinians are treated in Israel.
Rambam Hospital a Model for Arab-Israeli Coexistence
After three days at the hospital, which included tours of some of Rambam’s medical units, a series of medical and ethical lectures, discussions, debates and meetings with physicians who worked in the battlefield during the Gaza conflict and treated both Israeli and Gazan casualties, as well as with Arab and Israeli doctors who work side by side, Horton expressed ‘deep regret’ for the publication of the letter.
Horton concluded his visit with a lecture about the responsibilities of medical and scientific journals, during which he stated: “I am extraordinarily humbled and proud to be here.” Horton declared that Rambam Hospital served as a model for Arab-Israeli coexistence.
Setting the Record Straight
Before beginning his actual lecture, Horton wished to “set the record straight.”
“I deeply, deeply regret the completely unnecessary polarization that publication of the letter by Paola Manduca caused,” he said. “Second, I was personally horrified at the offensive video that was forwarded by two of the authors of that letter. The world view expressed in that video is abhorrent and must be condemned, and I condemn it.”
He was referring to a video by white supremacist David Duke that was promoted by two of the letter authors. After a round of applause, Horton continued, “I will be publishing what I have just said in The Lancet next week.”
Horton also expressed his clear opposition to boycotts in general and to the BDS movement in particular.
Rambam Hospital officials believe that the outcome of Horton’s visit holds promise for new academic and medical collaboration. Horton expressed an interest in receiving manuscripts from Israel and promoting collaboration between Rambam and The Lancet to further the cause of health care at all levels of society for people worldwide. Horton’s visit, in his own words, represents “a fresh start for a new and different future.”
Author: Aryeh Savir
Staff Writer, United with Israel
