Evening star., 1948-04-24
Palestine Hospital Tragedy

To the Editor OF The Star:
The news items in most of the papers were
about the same. They stated simply that
Jewish caravan of 10 vehicles, travelling from
Jerusalem to the Hadassah hospital atop Mt.
Scopus was ambushed by Arabs, resulting in
the Deaths among Others of IL doctors and
several nurses. The items, as such, were true,
because the papers reported from available
facts. However, there was more to it than
the mere relating of another round in the
Arab-Jewish struggle for Palestine. To some
of us who were more fortunate-or unfortun-
'ate, according to the way you see tin being
apprised of further facts, the deaths of these
martyrs meant the marking of dreadful page
in the history of medicine in the Near East.
Not only were IL doctors killed-among them
Dr. Hahn Yassky, director of the hospital-but
by their murders there was created an irrepar
able void for long time to come. With med
ical services in Palestine at premium, the kill
ing of these doctors means there is no One-ab-
solutely no one-at this time, who can replace
them, not alone in knowledge but in man
power
The majority of the doctors on Mt. Scopus
today found their way to Palestine over the
tortuous road of hell created by Hitler. Most
of these doctors are beyond middle age, just
as most of those II killed were. There are no
new young medical recruits to draw from for
requirements, because the medical schools OF
Na1-occupied Europe were closed for years
to Jewish students. Where, then, are the
requirements to come from?
The ironical part of this sad story is that
the caravan was travelling over a road that had
been guaranteed safe. Just a short while be-
fore both Arab and Jewish leaders had agreed
to abide by the Geneva Conference in matters
of ambulances and medical forces. Yet these
doctors and nurses were murdered in an am
bulance
The caravan was travelling to the American
built hospital which was organized over 35
years ago by far-seeing. mild-mannered
rabbits daughter from Baltimore, Henrietta
Sold This medical center has grown to be
recognized as the most modern institution OF
its kind in the Middle East, where Arab, Jew
and Christian are treated alike. There will
be the necessary adjustments made for the
continuance of this life-giving institution in
the new Jewish State, because the people OF
Palestine do not take time out now to cry.
The void is in their hearts, but they are filling
it by hard work, built upon hope and faith
Nevertheless, the passing of these brave men
and women is more marked by their absence
and the worlds inability to replace them.
AnO WQere QOeS tne iOI IiicoC tidSCeAco
lie? With the people who reneged on their
word Yes, the United States is guilty, and
the more she tries to mend her ways the more
involved she becomes Everything goes back to
this country's change of policy on the Pales-
tine partition plan. Do you think the trustee
ship suggestion is any better solution than
some of the others offered? 1t is just con-
tradiction to the reasons offered for the drop
ming of the nartition decision. The United
States didn't want to send troops under the
partition plan, but is now suggesting that the
trusteeship be impemented by the use of troops.
Are these grown men conducting our affairs?
In July the first Hebrew Medical School OF
the world will be opened in Jerusalem Inere
are young, eager students awaiting the Gay.
But some of the professors w.d be missing.
The absence of these professors is result OF
our dilly-dally policy. We should be ashamed
OF ourselves for permitting things to come to
sucl, q pass. MRS. JULIUS S. SEIGEL.