The Importance Of Israel’s Humanitarian Missions: Lt. Col. Eyal Dror’s Tour Across North America

Since the establishment of the state of Israel, the country has played an important role in humanitarian missions around the world, saving thousands of lives during natural disasters and other emergencies. Despite these efforts, there are those who openly advocate against Israel and ignore the contributions the country has made to global humanitarian efforts. Lt. Col. (Res.) Eyal Dror, a former IDF officer and founder of the Good Neighbor Project, recently embarked on a tour across North America to discuss the challenges of conducting humanitarian missions in enemy territories, including the transport of life-saving equipment through the Golan Heights and the evacuation of the “White Helmets” in Syria.

Dror’s tour, organized by Students Supporting Israel, visited various SSI chapters across the United States and Canada from March 27th to April 2nd, 2023. The tour covered five campuses and two community events at the following locations: Toronto Metropolitan University, University of Manitoba, Miami University, Texas A&M University, American University, and Minneapolis. During the tour, Dror shared his experiences as the founder and commander of the Good Neighbor Project, which led nearly 700 humanitarian operations on the Israeli-Syrian border, providing medical assistance to those affected by the Syrian civil war.

The final task of the Good Neighbor Project was a 10-hour rescue of 420 people, including the “White Helmets” and their families. The “White Helmets” were a group of Syrian humanitarians forced to flee by the advancing forces of President Assad’s regime. This operation was a testament to the Israeli Defense Forces’ commitment to helping those in need, even in the midst of a conflict with an enemy state.