Reply To: The Dov Lipman Response�Controversial?

mdd, what part of the Brisker shita does “nobody” hold like? Is it the part about not taking any money from the government, perhaps?

The Chazon Ish, Rav Elchonon, the Chofetz Chaim, Rav Aharon Kotler, and many others held the same regarding Zionism and the State in general. See also this thread:

http://www.theyeshivaworld.com/coffeeroom/topic/interesting-position-of-harav-eliyahu-meir-bloch-ztl-on-the-state-of-israel

Regarding the “locals”, think of the many gedolim who were asked about and/or encountered far worse behavior from their respective locals and knew better than to make it WORSE by violating the 3 oaths and attempting to make a state in Eretz Yisrael (as seems to have happened in Israel). Rambam’s Igeres Teiman comes to mind, for example.