Love of the Land: Egypt Bars Leading Israeli Doctor From Attending International Conference In Cairo

Egypt Bars Leading Israeli Doctor From Attending International Conference In Cairo

Dr. Aaron Lerner
IMRA
07 May '10
Posted before Shabbat

Maariv correspondent Tomar Welmar reports in today’s edition that Egypt has so far refused to issue a visa to Dr. Uri Seligsohn, Professor of Hematology at Sheba Medical Center, Tel Hashomer so that he can attend the 56th Scientific and Standardization Committee (SSC) meeting of the International Society on Thrombosis and Haemostasis (ISTH) in Cairo, May 22 – 25, 2010.

Professor Seligsohn is the Chairman, Education Committee of the ISTH and supported the decision by ISTH two years ago to schedule the 2010 meeting in Cairo.

“I thought that there were ties of peace and friendship between Israel and Egypt and I thought that with the help of the conference we would be able to develop the Egyptian medical system, but unfortunately I was wrong. It is most serious that medicine is being mixed with politics, and apparently the Egyptian are uncomfortable that a Jew and an Israeli doctor should come to their conferences. Since it became known that the Egyptians refuse to approve my entry there has been a tremendous commotion among researchers and doctors around the world. I know of many researchers who have cancelled their attendance at the conference and the management of the organization has announced that this move will have serious ramifications for scientists in Egypt,” Seligsohn told Welmar.

Love of the Land: Egypt Bars Leading Israeli Doctor From Attending International Conference In Cairo