Recently an additional shocking incident took place: The government of Israel handed over a further area [Sinai, area 3] to Egypt without receiving anything in return. We are speaking here of not just these areas given unilaterally, but as a preparation to hand over all territories to include the Holy City of Jerusalem. The height of the scandal is that those who are perpetrating this crime are fully aware of the truth but are falsely stating that this will bring peace. This exacerbates the danger.
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| Western Wall Tunnel |
From Talmudic texts we know that one who has one hundred in his possession wants 200, and immediately thereafter desires 400. We do not need to delve into ancient texts to see the reality of this progression: Egypt says so explicitly and print it in the newspapers, yet the Israeli government tries to conceal the reality. But facts run contrary to their pretense: see what the Egyptians are demanding! Anyone with some degree of intelligence is not ashamed to state: “I was mistaken”. Even the truly great leaders of the Jewish People, the later Sages, when mistaken would say: “that which I said before was a mistake”. The Torah avoids speaking disparagingly of anyone, yet in this instance speaks explicitly so that it will remain the basis of later-day decisions.
Even more shocking: the Israeli government is running after Egypt! They should learn from them! Take a message from the words of our Sages! Regarding the biblical period prior to the exodus of Israel from that land [Egypt], our Sages bring an analogy:
A man stole stinking fish and ate it. Thereafter he refused to pay and was whipped. When he could no longer bear the lashes, he finally paid. Regarding this it is said: He both ate the stinking fish, was whipped, and also finally found himself paying!
Why absorb contempt and whippings just so that the gentile world will smile at you! Demands will only grow in intensity! This is our situation today. In the end G-d Almighty will do as He wishes, and the entire land will be intact for the Jewish people. So why try to curry favor with Pharaoh, King of Egypt?
Why take insults and cause pain to Jewish people by banishing them from their livelihoods, not allowing them to live in the Old City of Jerusalem and the Holy City of Hebron.
When I raised the alarm some years ago that the Jewish people are opposed to the government of Israel turning the Old City of Jerusalem into a separate legal entity governed by Arabic law, different from the law governing Tel Aviv, Hadera, the new City of Jerusalem and all other areas, – all of this imposed by Jews – the government of Israel responded to me: “There is no such law!” Only now has it become public knowledge that for twelve consecutive years the law has existed offering favorable partiality to the Arabs: this an Arab may do, but not a Jew! And any Jew who did so was punished by the forces of the Jewish police!
I protested this many years ago! The government has eaten stinking fish, have been lashed, and now are speaking of their regret of having put their signature to the agreement!
Signing away land in return for a piece of paper? This signature flies in the face of Jewish Law and contrary to G-d’s Divine Will. Since G-d’s Word is eternal, this signature will contribute nothing! Why absorb contempt and whippings just so that the gentile world will smile at you! Demands will only grow in intensity!
The Israeli Government signed the paper presenting this to the Jewish People as “giving territory in return for peace”. Jews shouted “Mazal Tov”, rejoiced and made a festival – “the peace agreement has been signed!”
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| A neighborhood in Gush Katif, Israel, before residents were ordered out and homes razed. |
The question should have been presented in its correct form: Do you want to hold on to the territories and forgo a bit of worthless paper, or shall we get a worthless bit of paper in return for giving away sections of our country? They did not just give away the land for worthless paper; they gave away valuable landholdings on the borders – cities standing guard over the borders, thereby opening up the land to the enemy.
When I presented this argument to government representatives, I received this reply: "The Jewish People are a fair and honest nation; we signed the paper, we are bound to fulfill our obligation".
Wrong! The government can only sign away their own personal possessions and only for their own personal benefit [exactly as Egypt shouts that they will sign only for their own benefit, not for the benefit of Jordan, Syria, Saudi Arabia or Iran]. They cannot sign on behalf of the entire Jewish people who are the owners of the land of Israel [every Jew owns a portion of the land of Israel]. Not one single Jew has relinquished his rights to the Israel government. To the contrary: Jews argue that the Land of Israel is our eternal inheritance to an eternal nation from the Eternal Master of the World.
Every Jewish child, as soon as he begins his study of the Torah with Rashi’s commentary, learns that G-d showed His power to His people by giving them an inheritance from the nations [the land of Israel].
They argue – Jews signed and are obligated to uphold their signature on behalf of their people. They did not receive any power of attorney from the owners of the land of Israel who are all of the Jewish people of all generations. Their signature has no validity.
Go to Washington and declare your mistake, since the owners of the land are not in agreement. Even those who did agree to the withdrawal were mislead by not having been presented with the proposition in its true light: Land for worthless paper, not land for peace. Even great Sages admit to their mistakes. Now, the government makes a grave mistake, withholds the truth, and then argues that it cannot backtrack.
When you give away land– it is lost!
When you drive away Jewish people from their inheritance – it is lost!
When you give away oil wells – it is lost!
Yet, G-d’s Word will stand for ever. G-d forbid to say these will ultimately be lost!
Public talk 13th Tishrei 1980
