Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni has offered to provide "anything that India might ask for, any sort of assistance" in the Mumbai terrorist crisis, but foreign personnel have been barred from the scene, which was described as “a war zone."
Igal Almor, a Foreign Ministry spokesman, told Israel National News late Thursday afternoon that Israeli authorities were "in permanent contact with local authorities" but that the areas where hostages are being held "are controlled by police and special forces. They are not allowing in any foreign personnel."
Foreign Minister Livni had spoken with her Indian counterpart by phone earlier in the day to offer Israel's assistance. "We didn't make any specific offer," said Almor. "India is a sovereign nation after all, and they have sole responsibility for what happens on their land."
Livni condemned the attacks, noting, "Israel, India and the rest of the free world are positioned in the forefront of the battle against terrorism and extremists. Unfortunately, we were harshly reminded of this once again yesterday. The struggle against terror must be a communal struggle, and compels us to improve our cooperation on this front. Israel is ready to assist India in any way possible," she said in a statement released Thursday night by the ministry.
Reports that teams from Magen David Adom (MDA), ZAKA first responder services and the IDF Home Front were being sent to India were vigorously denied. "We are not sending anyone," said Almor, "certainly not the IDF. It is true that MDA and ZAKA are going, but they are sending themselves. I don't know why or what they hope to do."
(Ed. Note: It was later learned that members of ZAKA accompanied Rabbi Shimon Rosenberg and his wife Yehudit as they flew to be on the scene where their daughter Rivka and her husband Rabbi Gavriel Holtzberg are still being held hostage in the Mumbai Chabad House.)
Almor stressed that it was extremely difficult to assess the situation and obtain any accurate information from the scene. "We are constantly receiving conflicting reports," he said. "We don't have any confirmation of anything."