On Territorial Concessions

Editor's note: The following are comments that the Lubavitcher Rebbe of holy and blessed memory made 28 years ago on 10 Shevat, 5752. These comments were directed at the Prime Minister of Israel, Yitzchak Shamir. It's amazing how applicable the Rebbe's holy words are to our situation today, showing us the truth and timeliness of the tzaddik's words and vision, which Breslev Israel takes honor in sharing with you:
 
When Abraham first entered the Land of Canaan, G-d promised him, "I will give this land to your descendants." At that time the Land of Israel became the eternal heritage of the Jewish people, their land for all time. Even during the years of our people’s exile, Eretz Yisrael remains our land, as reflected in the prayer we recite three times each day: "Gather us together from the four corners of the earth to our land."
 
The Lubavitcher Rebbe, of blessed and saintly memory; right image courtesy of www.chabadnj.org
 
In this light, I find both strange and threatening the report that the present government of Israel is prepared to surrender portions of the land to other nations. Although they call this autonomy, the diplomatic terminology used is of no consequence. In practice, they are laying the foundation for the establishment of a Palestinian state within Eretz Yisrael, forcing the withdrawal of a Jewish presence from large portions of Judea, Samaria and Gaza, and eventually ceding even the holy cities of Hebron and Jerusalem to the Arabs. This is a matter of urgent concern: lives are at stake.
 
The individuals responsible for these decisions will surely offer explanations and excuses — that what is involved is "limited self-determination," merely control over education, agriculture, and matters of that like; that this is "only an experiment" and "the final decision will not be made until five years have past"; and so on.
 
Unfortunately, their explanations are of little significance. The nations of the world understand this plan as allowing for the creation of a Palestinian state. Ask any Arab. He will tell you that self-determination means that the Palestinians will be given authority over these portions of Eretz Yisrael so that they can create an independent state.
 
Many argue that it is necessary to continue negotiating on the issue of autonomy in order to receive loan guarantees from the United States. This is a dangerous and mistaken approach. The Jews in Israel must be the ones who make the decisions that determine their own security. They cannot rely on anyone other than — with G-d’s help — themselves. Succumbing to pressure from other nations will establish a pattern which will gain momentum. For each time one succumbs to pressure, one invites further pressure in the future. Experience has proved that appeasement breeds terrorism. In fact, even the suggestion of such talks has consistently encouraged acts of terrorism against Jewish men, women and children throughout the entire land.
 
Concessions Jeopardize Security
 
The willingness to discuss giving away portions of Eretz Yisrael reflects a lack of faith in G-d. Even in previous generations, in times of persecution and oppression, when outwardly our people’s fate appeared to depend on the decisions of gentile powers, the Jews knew that G-d was the source of their deliverance.
 
This approach does not imply that we should rely on faith alone. On the contrary, the Torah obligates us to employ all the natural means at our disposal and not to rely on miracles. Nevertheless, the natural means which we employ cannot alone promise success, for success depends on G-d. Needless to say, an approach which reflects a lack of faith in G-d will not have positive consequences.
 
The Shulchan Aruch, the Code of Jewish Law, rules that if enemies approach a city of strategic importance and demand items that are seemingly insignificant, and it appears that their intention is to attack or plunder, one is obligated to take up arms and resist their demands, even when doing so entails a violation of the Sabbath laws. The rationale: Concession will expose the entire land to danger and threaten the safety of its inhabitants.
 
There is no question that the surrender of the lands in question to the Arabs involves a threat to Jewish lives. This would unquestionably jeopardize the life and limb of all the inhabitants of the Holy Land. For this reason, the opposition to the above-mentioned plan is not restricted to the religiously observant. The safety of Jewish life and the holiness of the Land of Israel lie at the core of every Jew’s soul. When a person — and how much more so, a Jewish government — acts irresponsibly regarding these matters, this leads to a critically dangerous situation.
 
The Prime Minister has faith in G-d and understands the attachment of the Jewish People to the Land of Israel. His unflinching conduct in the past has earned him great merit. It is hard to conceive that he truly desires to surrender portions of Israel.
 
Until recently, the Prime Minister has demonstrated such strength. Similarly, he must now show the fortitude to withstand the pressures that confront him and withdraw the offer of autonomy. And if he lacks this strength, he should admit this publicly and relinquish his position.
 
Three Sanctities: the People, the Land, and the Torah
 
When the holiness of the Jewish people and the holiness of Eretz Yisrael are associated with the holiness of our Torah, they establish a firm connection with G-d, as it is written, "the threefold cord will not easily be severed." This in turn will endow the Jewish people with the strength to stand firm in the face of all challenges. When the Prime Minister brings holiness into the Land of Israel, he will be granted the strength to withstand all the pressure confronting him.
 
He will have the power to communicate to the nations of the world that G-d has given us Eretz Yisrael and that He alone determines the security and well-being of our people. And when this message is communicated to the nations straightforwardly, without apology, they will listen.
 
 
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Excerpts from “Sichos in English”, reprinted with the kind permission of www.sichosinenglish.org