Hell Must Have Frozen Over And No One Told Me

At least that's what I thought when I saw the following headline at ynet:

U.N. wants Israeli peacekeepers

Really?! I mean, really really? According to Itamar Eichner, author of the article, "World body approaches Israel with request for troops, military equipment; Jerusalem considering offer." So despite being treated like dirt for its entire existence -- which only happened because Ben Gurion more than likely blackmailed some countries into voting for giving the remaining Jews who weren't exterminated by Hitler a state -- Israel is entertaining helping them. If that doesn't prove what amazing people the Israelis are, I don't know what could.

Then again, I wonder if they're asking them to send troops to troubled spots around the globe is with the hope that many will die because of that, but that's just the cynic in me. I'm sure they meant well by it.

So do they really mean dangerous places?

Haiti, Kosovo, Congo, and Liberia are among the proposed destinations Israel’s leading newspaper Yedioth Ahronoth reported Tuesday.

OK, yep, that answers my question. Very dangerous places indeed. Yet it's not surprising they'd want Israel. Her troops and rescue efforts are probably the best in the world.

The U.N. has specifically asked for Israeli military medical units equipped with helicopters to serve in one of these hotspots. The world organization is also interested in purchasing advanced Israeli-made military equipment including night vision and telecommunication equipment.
 
News of talks between Israel and the U.N. broke out when a memo drafted by Ronny Adam, the U.N. Department head at the Foreign Ministry, was made public.
 
Adam recommended Israel heed the U.N.’s request and presented the memo to Foreign Ministry Director-General Ron Prosor, who gave the green light to negotiations with the world body.

"Recommended" they "heed the U.N.'s request"? Interesting wording. Those charmers of Kofi's. So what's in it for Israel?

Adam reported that the U.N. has offered to purchase military equipment from Israel in return for Jerusalem agreeing to send IDF soldiers to its peacekeeping force.  Soldiers from third world countries, who account for the bulk of peacekeeping troops, usually lack adequate advanced equipment, and western countries in possession of advanced military technologies only send few recruits to the U.N. peacekeeping force.

So they want Israel to be different than other western countries -- I guess that's the price of the U.N. deeming to be appearing civil to Israel after the plethora of resolutions they've passed condemning the small country.

If a deal eventually comes to light the recruitment of Israel Defense Soldiers to missions outside the frame of defending the State of Israel will require a special parliamentary bill.
 
Adam has recommended the government initiate the necessary legal procedures to pave the way for a new leaf in relations between Israel and the United Nations.

Yeah, I just bet he did. Still, this is pretty wild.