As I suspected, the reported refusal of an Israeli aid mission to Sri Lanka, one which incorporated a military unit, is more complicated than was reported earlier. Joshua Mitnick reports in the Washington Times:

A 150—member Israeli military delegation had been just hours from taking off in an air force plane when the mission was scrapped unexpectedly. Israel ultimately sent a plane with 80 tons of medical supplies, food and emergency equipment to the disaster—stricken country.

An Israeli Foreign Ministry official denied Israeli press reports that Sri Lanka had bristled at accepting aid from the Israeli military. 

"The reason that was given was that they were overflowing with [emergency] crews, and what they really need was the supplies and equipment," David Saranga, a Foreign Ministry spokesman, told Channel 1 television news.

My theory had been that the reported objections of the Sri Lankan military were related to the strengthening strategic alliance between Israel and India. Sri Lanka and India have a difficult relationship, aggravataed by a longstanding brutal terrorist movement undertaken by Hindu Tamil separatists, who comprise roughly 20% of the island nation's population. The Tamils are supported by many Tamils living in southern India. Sril Lanka is roughly 72% Buddhist Sinhala in ethnicity, with about 7% Muslims.

Hat tip: Ed Lasky

Thomas Lifson  12 30 04