Israelis in Greece to help refugees as the boats land

Israelis have been among the first to assist refugees who are fleeing war for the safety of Europe, and at the same time have strengthened ties between Jews and Muslims.

Fifteen IsraAid volunteers are working on the Greek island of Lesbos, where boatloads of people fleeing conflict in Syria, Libya and Afghanstan are arriving.

Naama Gorodischer, global programmes manager for the Israeli NGO, said: "The people are surprised and excited to meet us. Often it is the first time they have met an Israeli or Jewish person, so it has had a really positive impact and counters anything they may have thought or felt before."

Most of the aid workers are Arabic speakers. Ms Gorodischer said: "It really helps; we are often the only people who can speak to the refugees in their language and that comforts them a lot."