ISRAEL SENDS FIREFIGHTING PLANES TO HELP DOUSE CYPRUS BLAZE:

Israel said over the weekend that it was sending firefighting planes to a blaze in Cyprus, returning the neighboring island's helping hand when the Jewish state suffered a devastating forest fire in 2010. The decision followed a formal request from the Cyprus government. "At the time of the Carmel fire, Cyprus was the first country to send a firefighting plane" to Israel, the Prime Minister’s office said, referring to the 2010 fire which raged through the Carmel forest near Haifa in northern Israel for four days and killed 44 people. After destroying millions of trees and hundreds of homes, the Carmel blaze was finally brought under control with the help of planes and personnel from more than 16 countries, including Cyprus, the United States, Greece, Britain, Turkey, Russia and France. In Cyprus, thus far, no residential areas have been threatened by the blaze fanned by strong winds and scorching temperatures. (INN) Most of the mainstream news regarding Israel is related to conflict, but year after year the Jewish state contributes to the well being of the international community in a wide range of areas. Far too little of that receives significant media coverage. Here are a few ways Israel has helped the world in recent months: Israel continues to aid the victims of Syria’s civil war both by granting entry to those in need of urgent medical care and by sending aid teams to refugee camps throughout Europe. Israel was one of the first on the ground and provided a disproportionate amount of assistance when an earthquake ravaged the nation of Nepal. Israel fed the entire population of Vanuato for a full month after a tropical cyclone devastated the tiny island nation. Israel leads in the battle against the global water crisis by providing innovative solutions to over 150 nations where water is far too scarce. Of course, this list is by no means comprehensive. Despite Israel’s tiny size, minuscule population and lack of significant natural resources, it routinely contributes disproportionately to the good of the international community.