Yes, and like others, they are under close control, unarmed, in a training scenario...not out among the populace in a disaster area.
Do you really think they'd come to a rescue mission armed? Don't you think we'd notice that, and remedy the situation? Pul-leeze. There is actually more likelihood that trainees would be armed--since we're training them to use those arms. But I doubt either category would show up at a disaster scene armed to the teeth. Makes no sense.
On the other hand, the Deutshe Presse-Agentur, which does not have to concern itself with playing to an American audience, put a very different spin on the story
I'm not sure if you have been to Holloman ABF, or been involved with "Training" missions on the range; but they are most definitely not unarmed.
In any event, the IDF, the way I understand it, was not proposing to send a military strike force.
It is entirely the option of a sovereign nation to host or not host whomever they wish. I'll have to admit that my previous post was not entirely correct in that we would not welcome help from, say, Iraq or most of it's neighbors.
I just think it is in poor taste to take the money, then insult the nation offering it.