By COLlive reporter
Following the Simchas Torah Massacre by the Hamas terrorist organization, a rabbinical group is calling on the Israeli government to formally forgo the decades-old mantra that concessions will lead to peace and safety.
In a public letter to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, the Rabbinical Congress for Peace – Rabbonei Pikuach Nefesh wrote that what has occurred just a month ago and the war that Israel has been waging ever since, was “a scenario” they have warned about for years.
Dated November 9, 2023, the letter reads:
“To the Prime Minister, Ministers of Israel and members of the National Security Cabinet,
“In these terrible days, when the bloodstains have not yet dried, the cries of Jewish infants still tear our hearts, and our heroic and precious IDF soldiers give their lives in the war against enemy, it is our duty to once more remind you, even now, ‘Was not the government warned about the October 7 disaster?’ Israeli rabbis have been cautioning about such and similar scenarios for over 30 years!”
“400 leading Israeli rabbis signed a halachic ruling, based on the Shulchan Aruch (Orach Chaim #329), that forbids withdrawal from Israeli territories, because the transference of territories, the Oslo Accords, the disengagement plan and the policy of concessions will lead only to this terrible tragedy!
“Halacha (Torah Law) clearly rules that any negotiation over Israeli territories is absolutely forbidden. Such negotiations will lead to the infiltration of terrorists into our borders, the conquest of Israeli settlements and unspeakable bloodshed. In the language of the halacha, “from there the land will be easy for them to conquer”!
“The clear halachic ruling has been presented to all Israeli Prime Ministers and Defense Ministers for 30 years. It has appeared prominently in countless media outlets and read over and again with great outcry and terrible concern, until today. “We said to you, Do not sin against the child, but you did not listen. Now, behold, his blood is demanded!” (Bereshit 42:22)
“With a broken and bleeding heart, the rabbis of Israel ask you only one thing: Declare now, firmly and decisively, before the entire world, ‘Never again!’ There will be no more negotiations over Israeli territories. No more talk about a two state solution. No more concessions and appeasements! No more withdrawals and settlement dismantling! No more passing control of Gaza, Judea and Samaria to the terrorists of the Palestinian Authority and Hamas – may their name and memory be blotted out.”
The asked the government to “declare that you regret the Oslo Accords and the disengagement, and that Israeli security forces alone will have full control over all the territories of the Land of Israel!”
“We believe without a doubt that when the Israeli government clearly and unequivocally states this to the world, we will see God’s blessing accompany our soldiers, to result in a quick and decisive victory, the eradication of all our enemies, and the safe return of our missing loved ones. Together, we will merit the promise of our holy Torah, “And I will give peace to the land. And you shall lie down, and no one shall make you afraid” (Vayikra 26:6).”
To see the original Halacha and the signatures of the rabbis throughout the decades, visit rcp.org.il
Just because some politicians in Washington invoke this craziness, it does not mean that it will be implemented.
May their words be heeded completely, and with that, the geula shlaimah.
Better idea is let all of the gazans and all other Arabs who will not swear to loyalty to the Jewish State of Israel, willing to risk their very lives to protect the Land, will no longer be allowed to live in Israel.
They must be deported to other countries to absorb them. Best in Muslim countries with a similar cultural background for a smoother acceptance into life where ever they will be. One thing is certain, I live in Jerusalem and I am definitely not interested in them being my neighbors any longer .
They blew it
Good to see rabbonim not being nispoel and standing up for halocho.
May this lead to the complete reconquering of Eretz Hakodesh, and ultimately the true peace, Moshiach Tzidkeinu.
yechi hamelech
The above message is what should have been promoted at the rally in Washington. But no. There were representatives of the Democrat Party – the ones who are sending money to Iran so Iran can fund Hamas.
Were there any speakers representative of the Torah observant community who spoke to the crowd?
400 shekel kesef! You prove a point so strongly theough your united voice
What is their solution?
What do they expect to happen to all the Arabs living there, the only other solution is a binational state that gives equal rights to all this is ludicrously dumb.
Who said they can’t get equal rights? They just have to law abiding citizens to the current government.
This would not work unless Israel has a wave of aliyah or extends its franchise somehow to expats. No, there are certain rights Israel cannot extend in the long run. The framework needs to be along the lines of the Nation State law: that only Jews have the collective right to nationhood in that small territory. There can be autonomous zones but no nationhood for another people there, and this requires being very careful about voting. People cannot be given the right to vote out the idea of a Jewish state over time. For anyone who repeats the canard that… Read more »
No that is not the only other solution. That is a solution that fits your Western oriented worldview. The status quo is far better than either of these “solutions.” Something that makes a situation worse cannot in any objective sense be deemed a “solution.”
Problem is bibi is dependent on usa weapons for the war. Israel was warned by the rebbe not to be dependent on other countries for weapons but to make their own.
Usa has their own agenda with many iranian and antisemites in the state dept and other top offices
Even the new usa ambassator to israel who is jewish, was behind the iran deal and for 2 state solution
where does the Rebbe say we should make our own weapons? that is cool. i would like to publicize this inyan with a source. brocho vehatzlocho.
We ourselves are not in control. With Ahavas yisrael, let’s pray for Bibi and all of them and all of us to do more and more mitzvoth, listen to daas Torah and mashpiyas, find out what the Rebbe directs us in and all be our best part of Moshiach now. We might suspect that some in secular governments don’t believe. Do we believe? Do we know the power of tefilla on behalf of our fellow Jews’ and our own enlightenment?
We all could improve in listening to really hear what Hashem wants from us and to know we ourselves are no
It’s called Jordan.
And I wonder why the Palestinians don’t call for Jordan to be given up …
Kol Hakavod. I think PM Netanyahu does not believe in a Palestinian state and is mightily resisting the pressure for such a thing. There is always a danger that someone else could step in and make a catastrophic error like that. Israel is still paying, in blood, for the catqstrophic expulsion of Gush Katif by Ariel Sharon, and it is but a tiny fraction of what the danger of a Palestinian state in Judea and Samaria would constitute. This is why the discussions of what happens in Gaza “the day after the war” are so vital. If it is connected… Read more »
Awaiting Hashem’s nissim and yeshuos!
Whatever u want to call it , people that hate u don’t make good neighbors , israel doesn’t have enough men to police 5 million Arabs. It’s not gonna work.
It is difficult but not impossible. The opposite is true, and I think it must be brought into perspective. Before 2005, Israel maintained relative quiet in Gaza with 10,000 soldiers and 10,000 “settlers.” Today they are have amassed 300,000 troops to systematically dismantle the terror base that was built there since 2005, which includes tunnels extending farther than the NYC subway system. In Judea and Samaria today, Israel maintains security with 500,000 “settlers” and the ability of the army to conduct pinpointed counterterrorism raids whenever and wherever needed. If the “settlers” were to be expelled, the army would eventually leave;… Read more »
I responded to your comment in detail but it seems either the response has been held up or isn’t appearing. In brief, it is both doable and critical that Israel control these areas and history has shown it can do so ane that security is better when it does. The obstacle is political, chiefly in the US. From a security standpoint I will emphasize it this way: before 2005, Israel maintained security in Gaza with a total of 10,000 “settlers” and 10,000 soldiers. Today it has mobilized the largest reserve force in its history to reconquer Gaza. In Judea and… Read more »
The West Bank was probably the largest strain on manpower in the country besides the Gaza border Israel has 170k soldiers active duty and 30k police It isn’t enough to police a hostile Arab population The West Bank has terrorism daily. You cannot claim it is safe just because there wasn’t a hamas assault. Lest we forget the second intifada / most of the suicide bombers came from this land The West Bank and Gaza aren’t contiguous territories and are heavily militarized and still extremely dangerous for Jews. I agree two state solution with Jews and arabs side by side… Read more »
The West Bank (call it by its proper name, Yehuda and Shomron) is not “extremely dangerous for Jews,” BH. Hundreds of thousands of Jews (kein yirbu) live in those places without a problem; I myself have relatives living in different parts of Yehuda and Shomron for twenty years in no less safety than anywhere else. “Jews want israel but so do Palestinians and each have equal rights under hashem. Who has the right to the land ? Both ? Neither ?” Start by learning the first Rashi on Chumash for your answer. No, the Palis do not have “equal rights… Read more »
The status quo is preferable to the alternative of a surrender, and the presence of the IDF and the “settlers” is not a drain on resources but an asset that protects all of Israel. I will repeat the example of Gush Katif. Contrast the situation in Gaza pre-2005 with the four wars since. Then multiply by 1000 if you wonder what would happen if the same were done in the high ground. As for world support, it is not a monolithic construct. There are moments when a country has opportunities to take strategic measures, as in 48, and even now.… Read more »
Ok so youre saying basically if we behave god will help us ? You don’t share my pessimism but you agree with me that it isn’t safe and we need assets in the yehuda and shimshon to make sure the whole country and people there are safe ? Gush Katif acc to Wikipedia was given away in 05 The intifadas was from like 88 to 05 No way that it was safer then than now because now there’s a massive security wall made of concrete and stuff that is impenetrable to terrorists? Btw walls don’t work they are static structures… Read more »
Every step toward withdrawal made the situation less safe. Prior to the Gaza-Jericho agreement under which Yasser Arafat and an army of terrorists were brought to the area from exile in Tunisia, Israelis would travel freely to Gaza and prior to a brutal rape committed by Gazans, the latter would travel freely in Israel. But yes, until 2005 there was no serious threat to the “Gaza envelope.” There wasn’t even such a concept of a Gaza envelope. Rockets would be directed at the communities of Gush Katif, located Southward around Rafah. There were also a few strategically placed communities elsewhere.… Read more »
Can you write this as an article and publish it more widely? A pity that such a clear analysis should be relegated to a comment thread.
Soon, before Menachem Begin became Prime
Minister of Israel, he was on American TV,
while walking around the so-called “occupied”
territory. I think he was carrying a Sefer-Torah.
“What occupied territory?! I don’t like that term,
:”occupied.” It’s LIBERATED territory…”
Sorry I could not find that segment. But here
is one about the German Chancellor suggesting a Palestinian
state. See how Begin (typical Begin style) just rips him!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5_o29D07uVk
Prime Minister Begin was once on
one of these American T.V. shows
(e.g. “Meet the press”, “Face the nation”,
“Issues and answers”),
where a panel of journalists were
interviewing him.
When asked about annexing the territories,
Begin replied, “You don’t annex your own country.”
I believe the attack wouldnt have happened if trump was president but then again it wouldnt solve our problems either
Realize that what’s touted as his “racism” is nothing of the sort, any more so than the old Soviet accusations against (lehavdil) Jews of being “counterrevolutionaries.”
The land in the north also is Israel’s I think. It was assigned to Israel by the British doctrine. The Lebanese I believe, just moved in right away and took it over. They are squaters on land that officially & legally belongs to Israel. This is my understanding, and wonder if I’m correct or not. If so, why is this situation never brought up. We need that land back also! I’d appreciate someone in the know to respond regarding this situation.