Annex the Territories to the State of Israel!

The whole package of problems with which we are struggling are all bound together in one source: concern of (what) the nations (will say). The problems of Jewish spiritual leadership; also of the Orthodox; both in the Golah and in Eretz Israel; the burning problems of American Jewry with new events unraveling; the problems of the territories in Eretz Israel – all of these flow from a lack of a clear and fortified Jewish independent stand vis a vis the Gentile.  

Millions of endangered Jewish lives:
90% of territories returned

                                                                                                                                    Regarding the problems of the territories, the view of the Rebbe is clear. We must strengthen the territories and annex them to the State of Israel regardless of all of the problems which such an annexation will bring with it.However, the reasoning of the Rebbe regarding such a stand, is far different from the reasoning of the people who belong to ‘the movement for the Greater Land of Israel’.  As far as the Rebbe is concerned, their motives are neither mystical nor visionary, but quite straightforward: his is the way of the world; the conqueror conquers and takes control and is not concerned with what others say. (The Rebbe’s view is as follows) No one would have considered the return of the territories had Israeli statesmen not spoken of it first. True, one and a half million Arabs within the boundaries of the state are likely to be a problem.  However the Rebbe asks: ‘What would be ‘the best alternative’ to holding on to the territories? An Arab or Jordanian State, independent or federal, in which there would be one and a half million harmful Arabs?  Would it be better to have one and a half million Arabs in their own country a firing shot away from the cities and villages of the Jewish State, rather than to have one million Arabs subject to the scrutiny of the State within her borders, with all the problems which this would create?

According to the view of the Rebbe, we have here (in our retreat and assistance in establishing a Palestinian state,) a severe threat to Jewish lives. The Halachic ruling (that to do so, is absolutely forbidden) is clear. Had the State of Israel made this (the annexation) a fact on the ground both in Jerusalem and the territories immediately after the conquest, no one would have protested.  Now that we have shown our weakness the Arabs and our enemies raise their voice of protest over every stone that is moved in Jerusalem.  All of this has befallen us because we want to find favor in the eyes of others.  

                                                                    Interview of Mr. Pinchas Peli with the Rebbe                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   

The kindness of Nations is from the Hands of G-d.

When giving charity to the Land of Israel, in addition to the value of charity in its own right, there is an additional quality in that one is fortifying the inhabitants of Eretz Israel. This matter is especially relevant at this time. 

We are living through a time of two fold darkness of the exile. To the naked eye it appears that we are reliant on the ‘kindness of the nations’. We need to realize that the kindness of the nations contains within it an element of sin, in that all nations act with self interest [Zohar]. When the Jewish People are recipient of such benefits, one has to realize the truth: that they have received this assistance [ultimately not from the world community] but from G-d, ‘The Guardian of Israel, Who neither slumbers nor sleeps’. 

The nations are as an axe in the hands of the wood chopper, have in reality no choice, but are vehicles through which G-d acts – an axe in the hands of G-d.

From this it is clear that it would be highly inappropriate for a Jew to bow and pay homage to an axe, and to turn it into a form of idol worship. This is true even if together with bowing before the axe [the gentile] the Jew were to offer his prayers to G-d, and certainly not to turn the axe into the main focus of homage, rather than turning to the one who holds the axe [G-d]. Bowing before the axe and at the same time praying to G-d is a form of idol worship forbidden to the Jewish people. [In ancient times this took the form of faith in G-d together with the mistaken belief that the stars and constellations were consciously active in emanating energy to the world.] Even should such a service be performed inadvertently, it is considered idol worship.

Therefore, it is a matter of absolute certainty that one must not be intimidated or feel dependent on nations who do not have freedom of choice even though benefits do come through them. To the contrary: the Jewish nation must stand strong in matters of self survival, and have a firm bond with G-d. ‘The hearts of kings are in the Hands of G-d’ [Proverbs], because the souls of the Kings see clearly that their source is from G-d; only then will the Jewish people receive from them all of their needs. These nations do indeed offer financial assistance, but one must realize that everything ultimately comes from G-d. It is because we are in a time of dark exile that it is through the nations that these benefits are channeled. They are no more than agents of G-d.  Now since we are receiving from G-d, He will give ‘from His full, open, Holy, and broad Hand’ generously [also via agents] as our Sages say, ‘One who gives, gives with a good generous eye’. Talmud Bava Basra 53.1.  

                                                                                                  Public talk 19 Kislev, 1988.

Letter from the Lubavitcher Rebbe to General Arik Sharon, November 11, 1973

By the Grace of G-d
16 Cheshvan, 5734 [November 11, 1973]
Brooklyn, N.Y.
Greeting and blessing:

...Here I wish to refer to one point in your latest letter, where you wrote about the difference between the Six Day War and the so-called Yom Kippur War, in that 

G-d’s miracles were more obvious in the Six Day War, etc.

As a matter of fact, there were ample miracles, and quite obvious ones, in the last war. The overall miracle, which has now been revealed although not overly publicized, is the survival after the first few days of the war, when even Washington was seriously concerned whether the Israeli army could halt the tremendous onslaught of the first attack. Slowly details are now being revealed also in the Israeli press as to how serious was the danger in those early days of the war.

The greatest miracle was that the Egyptians stopped their invasion for no good reason only a few miles east of the Canal. The obvious military strategy would have been to leave a few fortified positions in the rear, and with the huge army of 100,000 men armed to the teeth, to march forward into Sinai, where at that point in time there was no organized defense of any military consequence. This is something that cannot be explained in the natural order of things, except as it is written, “The dread of the Jews fell upon them,” in the face of their intelligence reports about the complete unpreparedness of the Jews in Eretz Yisrael at that time.

There are also scores of reported miracles in various sectors of both fronts. The essential point of this whole tragic war is that it could have been prevented and, as in the case of medicine, prevention is more desirable than cure.

With blessing,

Quote: The Lubavitcher Rebbe: The Israeli Government is arming her enemy!!

’It is unheard of anywhere to give weapons to those before whom you are afraid and are shaking with fear, begging them to make peace and at the same time giving them weapons!

In the past they were warned: “Don’t do it!”

You are giving your weapons to the one who says every day: “If you continue to give us weapons - we will remain silent;  and should you not giving weapons - we will consider what to do!

                                                                               From a public talk September 10, 1980

The Lubavitcher Rebbe: “The surest path to success is to be on the ‘offensive’ not only on the ‘defensive’. Don't wait for the other side to strike first”.

The Rebbe: Much success in your very important position for all those living in the Holy Land. Good tidings.  

The Rebbe

Mr. Savir: I request your blessing for our work to bring Jews to Israel and to support us and that they support our peace effort. I hope the Prime Minister will succeed and there will be ‘peace upon Israel’.  

The Rebbe: We need not only ‘peace upon Israel,’ but the appropriate strength to protect everything, not only ‘defense’ which is obvious, but the surest path to success is to be on the ‘offensive’ - not to wait for the other side to strike first.  

Mr. Savir: We need peace, we need security and we need Jews to support us.

The Rebbe: Remind Prime Minister Shamir from time-to-time that he was the only one who opposed the Camp David Accords.

Mr. Savir: Yes.

The Rebbe: They chose to connect this shameful accord with the name of King David…

Mr. Savir: Now the government has a new plan, to make elections for the Arabs in the territories. And with much patience and perseverance we shall succeed.

The Rebbe: This issue is so steeped in controversy that I don’t believe the government has already reached a decision what Israel’s final position on this should be.

Mr. Savir: Yes, there is disagreement, and conflict weakens but it is possible to succeed step- by-step...We have agreed to the United States’ proposal. Now we are waiting for the Arab response.

The Rebbe: In that case there will be success, because the Arabs will not agree, and that will nullify any Israeli plans to make concessions.

Mr. Savir: We want to live in peace and safety; we need only to convince the Americans that this is so.

The Rebbe: The Americans ultimately have no freedom of choice, because they are dependent on G-d’s choice. On the other hand regarding the conduct of Israel, G-d places the freedom of choice in the hands of the Jewish People, including making a choice which is against the Divine Will. He believes strongly in the Jewish People that ultimately they will choose in the path which is 100% in accordance with our Holy Torah. Then the Torah, the People and the Land will all be complete.  

           Interview with Mr. Uri Savir Israeli Ambassador to the United States Nov.26, 1989