The Rabbinical Congress for Peace (RCP) sent a sharp message to new Defense Minister Avigdor Lieberman chastising him for his first statements as soon as he became defense minister.

“You can’t bribe G-d by going to pray at the Kosel and immediately afterwards announce your acceptance of a two-state solution which endangers the Jewish people and the Jewish state,” the rabbis wrote.

“Wasn’t enough blood spilled after every concession, withdrawal and submitting to pressure until now?! The rabbis asked. Among the rabbis who signed the letter to Lieberman were, Rabbi Joseph Gerlitzky, the rabbi of central Tel Aviv, Rabbi Moshe Havlin, Chief Rabbi of Kiryat Gat, Rabbi Sholom Gold of Har Nof, wrote Lieberman, “Don’t you realize that by making statements in favor of a Palestinian state or “cohesion of the nation trumps attachment to greater Israel,” only rewards terror and invites more terror. Your statement during the first speech as defense minister jeopardizes the security of Israel instead of defending it?” the rabbis said.

There is nothing that has so divided Israel as trying to detach Israel from its land,” said the RCP, “it not only endangered Israel but is the cause of the tremendous schism among Israel today. The integrity of the Land of Israel is the only guarantee for the integrity of the nation and peace in the land as determined in Shulchan Aruch Orach Chaim 329.

The rabbis called on the defense minister to “come to his senses” and retract his statements. “If you are too weak to withstand the pressure of the enemy and world opinion then resign as indeed your predecessor, Mr. Ya’alon did. “If you truly want to contribute to the defense of Israel then follow the Torah which illuminates our lives and announce that there no longer will be any negotiations on withdrawals from any territory currently under Israeli control,” the rabbis concluded their letter.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)