In a letter addressed to the Rabbinical Congress for Peace (RCP) , Speaker of the Knesset, Yuli Edelstein wrote that “There is no doubt in my mind that empty words like “negotiations” or “peace agreement” that have no backing other than preparedness by Israel to concede without getting anything in return is futile.
“Certainly, from a strategic point of view such declarations can weaken our position against terror elements and extreme Islamists who refuse to accept our presence here as a sovereign nation,” Edelstein wrote.
Edelstein’s letter came in the wake of the RCP’s recent campaign calling on the Israeli government to officially proclaim that the policy of withdrawals from land under Israeli control was and is a fatal mistake.
Rabbi Gerlitzky, Chairman of the RCP, said that in essence Edelstein acknowledged the Halacha stated in Shulchan Oruch Orach Chaim 329 that negotiating on surrendering land to the Arabs only increases the danger to human life and that Israel should adopt this Halacha as its guideline to peace and security.
Rabbi Gerlitzky urged the government do declare openly that it regrets fully the agreements and withdrawals that Israel carried out until today and to refrain from negotiations that deal with further withdrawals.
Leaders of the RCP declared that although they do not get involved in elections and will not support and party nevertheless, they will not remain silent. “When dealing with Jewish Law there is no Left or Right,” said Rabbi Abraham S. Lewin, Director of the RCP.” When entering the polling station to vote one must consider only one thing, will your vote help to prevent the establishment of a government that will continue negotiations on further withdrawals and concessions to enemies of Israel which is a danger to life.
“We will bring this basic principle to the attention of every Jew in Israel and pray that the future government will be a stronger government that will follow the instructions of the Torah, I will grant peace in the land,” said Lewin.
(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)
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One Response
With minimal exceptions, all Israeli politicians are now, and have always been willing to negotiate. However the minimum Palestinian demand is that Medinat Yisrael be replaced by an Islamic Palestinian state which is unacceptable to virtually all Israeli politicians. As long as the minimum Palestian demand is out of reach of the minimum Israeli position (a zionist state), no meaningful negotiating will ever take peace beyond interim agreements or side issues. However if the Arabs were ever to agree to the continued existence of a zionist state, almost all Israeli politicians would gladly negotiate.