The G-d of Israel does have a sense of Humor. Juxtaposing Pres. Trumps recent UN press conference where he spoke of his two-state plan followed within ten days by G-ds opinion of that plan.
A few days ago millions of Jews around Israel and the Jewish world danced with Sefer Torahs for Simchat Torah. And this Shabbat all across the Jewish world the yearly Sabbath Torah reading will begin anew with Bereshit the beginning of the Book of Genesis.
The most basic commentary on the Torah printed in almost all Hebrew editions is that of Rashi Rabbi Shlomo Yitzhaki the famous 11th century French Biblical and Talmudic commentator.
In the beginning literally of Genesis Rashi asks a question Why does the Torah start with the story of creation? Since the Torah is a book of laws for the Jewish People why doesnt it begin with the first law given by G-d to the Jews the law for establishing a calendar?"
He answers the Torah starts with the creation narrative to establish that G-d is the Master of the Universe. Then Rashi says the most amazing thing that still resonates almost a thousand years later. Based on earlier sources and a thorough knowledge of the meaning of Judaism Rashi says So that if the nations come to Israel and say you are thieves in Hebrew she-kevash-tem you conquered and occupied the land from the nations living there you can tell them that all the universe is G-ds He created it and gave it to the nations and when He decided He took it from them and gave it to us."
Three things have become starkly clear in our era:
First that Rashis explanation of the Torah has in fact come true. Jews have returned to the Land of Israel but the UN and many nations claim as Rashi explained they would that we stole the land from others namely the so-called Palestinians.
Second the Israeli Left uses the same Hebrew root/term kibush occupation to denigrate the miraculous victory of the 1967 Six-Day War. It is the same term occupation" used by most of the world in their criticism of Israeli policies in the territories" Judea and Samaria.
Even Ariel Sharon used it at one point to justify his withdrawal from Gaza. It is the language of self-hating Jews those disconnected from Jewish history and tradition and the Judeo-paths among the nations. Occupation is when you steal someone elses land.
The Jewish People liberated parts of the Land of Israel their Promised Homeland in stages first in 1948 and then in 1967 with G-ds help. The Jewish People didnt steal" anything.
And finally that the only basis for the Jewish Peoples national life in their homeland is G-ds promise as set down in the Bible; not history not security but G-ds promise to their forefathers. Only being rooted in Jewish tradition will guarantee long-term survival as it did in nearly 2000 years of exile.
Rashi told the Jewish People He took it from them and gave it to us." And thats what every Jewish leader should continuously broadcast on the world stage.
In a recent UN press conference Trump said:
Well Id love to be able to make a deal with the Israelis and the Palestinians. You know my whole life I was told thats the toughest deal...but were going to take care of that too. Every possible thing is tough about that. I think were going to make a deal..."
So at one of our many meetings today I was with Bibi Netanyahu a man who I have a lot of respect for. A man whos been extremely nice to me very happy that I did the whole thing with Jerusalem and the embassy which by the way we got open in four months..."
And what is Trump expecting in return?
Trump continued ...one of the reporters...asked about the one state two state and I said I think the two state will happen I think its one way more difficult because its a real estate deal because you need meets and bounds and you need lots of carve outs and lots of everything. Its actually a little tougher deal but another way it works better because you have people governing themselves and so they asked me about that. I said well I think the two state will happen I think were going to go down the two state road..."
And Im glad I got it out and Jared whos so involved he loves Israel. He loves Israel. But hes also going to be very fair with the Palestinians. He understands it takes two people to be happy two groups of people to be happy."
Another Jewish traitor to the Land of Israel?
Everybodys got to be happy and thats why its so tough because theres been so much hatred and anger for so many years thats what probably the number one ingredient of toughness is. But they asked me I said I think its going to be a two state. And you know what I did today? By saying that I put it out there. And if you ask most of the people in Israel they agree with that..."
Not true a recent study conducted by the Left-leaning Tami Steinmetz Center for Peace Research at Tel Aviv University found only 43 of Israeli Jews support the two-state solution a 20-year low. Even among the Israeli Jewish Left support fell from 83 to 66.
Trump continued But nobody wanted to say it. Its a big thing to put it out its a very big thing to put it out. Now bottom line if the Israelis and the Palestinians want one state thats OK with me. If they want two states thats OK with me. Im happy if theyre happy. Im a facilitator I want to see if I can get a deal done so that people dont get killed anymore."
When we had in Saudi Arabia we had one of the great conferences in history...we had I believe 58 Muslim countries their leaders the kings the Emirs the absolute leaders from every there was nobody in second place they were the leaders of the whole thing."
And unbeknownst to anybody else people would come up to me individual it wasnt a set up theyd come up to me and say sir you cant have peace in the Middle East without peace between the Israelis and the Palestinians." I said why what difference why does that matter so much?
They said it just is impossible to make peace in the Middle East unless you have between the Israelis.." so I heard that from...the King of Saudi Arabia whose a great guy...And then somebody else came up and he wasnt told oh go up and say it" I know where theyre coming from."
So Trump is sympathetic to the Arab position?
He continued And I must have had 12 leaders say it and they just said it. And I started to realize that peace between Israel and the Palestinians for the Middle East is a very important thing and were trying very hard to get it. I think probably two states is more likely but you know if they do a single if they do a double Im OK with it if theyre both happy. If theyre both happy Im OK with either. I think the two state is more likely..."
Trump thinks its going to be two states...
A true Jewish leader needs to stand up not frightened of Trump or anyone and declare The Master of the Universe took it from them and gave it to us." The Promised Land belongs to the Jews exclusively and not to any other nation.
Any Israeli prime minister who cant get on TV go to the UN General Assembly or any other meeting with world leaders and say these words should quit before rejecting the promises of G-d and participating in a process to help another group take over part of the Land of Israel.
As King David said If I forget you Jerusalem" - a term for the entire Land of Israel - let my right hand wither" - rather than sign any false peace agreement - let my tongue cleave to the roof of my mouth...." (Psalms 137: 5-6) rather than agree to foreigners taking over part of the Jewish Peoples homeland.
Why lie to the Palestinians? Why make them believe they are right that Israel stole" their land? Why participate in a peace process? Why fool them into believing that Israel will give them land and a state?
Netanyahu should tell the world He took it from them and gave it to us."
Whats most important for Israeli leaders and the world to understand is that no matter what the Israeli government decides to do it has no Religious Legitimacy in Judaism. No Israeli leader or government has the moral historical or spiritual right to take away parts of the Promised Land from the Jewish People and give it to others. Its not theirs to do with as they please; the Land of Israel is an inheritance from G-d and it is not for one generation to decide what to do with it. It is also for all future generations of Jews. It will never be accepted by Jews steeped in their heritage and tradition or by G-d.
Ani Maamin..." I believe with complete faith in the coming of the Messiah and even if he takes a long time to come I believe every day hes coming! It is one of the thirteen principles of faith as codified by Maimonides. The Jews will get back their homeland; the Palestinians will not have a state. So why start now so close to his coming?
The Land of Israel was promised to Abraham Isaac Jacob and their descendants the Jews.
The Master of the Universe told them that even though their children will suffer terrible exiles an educational and cleansing process in the end He would bring them home. In the 1948 War of Independence G-d gave political sovereignty to the Jews for the first time in almost 2000 years. In the 1967 Six-Day War G-d returned the Holy City of Jerusalem in its entirety including eastern Jerusalem and the Temple Mount to the Jewish People. Hebron Judaisms second holiest city with the Cave of the Patriarchs the burial place of Abraham Isaac and Jacob and King Davids first capital city before Jerusalem was returned as well. Truthfully Judea and Samaria the so-called West Bank is drenched in Jewish history and Jewish holy sites. Thats why its commonly referred to as the Biblical Heartland".
The Jewish People have been brought home.
Those who have built their world-view on security needs and have claimed that we cannot allow a Palestinian state to come into existence because of that have missed the point. The Palestinians and the world are playing the Peace Card". Even if they promised up and down that there would be a thousand years of Peace" how can Israel spurn G-ds promise?
Members of the ruling Likud Party and the National Camp have for years based their claim to the occupied territories" on historical claim and more importantly have said that for security reasons they couldnt give them away. Rather than remind everyone of the Biblical Promise and that its non-negotiable.
The Israeli Left in contrast has argued for quite some time that control over Judea and Samaria is a security liability and not an asset. They have argued that the only true security is in Peace" with the Arabs and not the status quo. American presidents from Clinton to Obama have basically said the same thing. Trump is following in their footsteps…
The Likud the National Camp the Yesha Council and all those on the Israeli Right" who cant bring themselves to base their claim on the Biblical Promise have missed the point.
The Israeli Left never had it. The world well what can we say? Except He took it from them and gave it to us." There is no spiritual legitimacy to retreat from the Land of Israel. There is no spiritual legitimacy in refusing to graciously receive G-ds Promised Land and fight to keep it. There is no spiritual legitimacy to any of these so-called Peace" agreements Oslo the Roadmap or the Trump Plan."
Netanyahu tell the world the truth He took it from them and gave it to us!"
Ariel Natan Pasko an independent analyst and consultant has a Masters Degree specializing in International Relations Political Economy & Policy Analysis. His articles appear regularly on numerous news/views and think-tank websites and in newspapers. His latest articles can also be read on his archive: The Think Tank by Ariel Natan Pasko.
(c) 2018/5779 Pasko
The G-d of Israel does have a sense of Humor. Juxtaposing Pres. Trumps recent UN press conference where he spoke of his two-state plan followed within ten days by G-ds opinion of that plan.
A few days ago millions of Jews around Israel and the Jewish world danced with Sefer Torahs for Simchat Torah. And this Shabbat all across the Jewish world the yearly Sabbath Torah reading will begin anew with Bereshit the beginning of the Book of Genesis.
The most basic commentary on the Torah printed in almost all Hebrew editions is that of Rashi Rabbi Shlomo Yitzhaki the famous 11th century French Biblical and Talmudic commentator.
In the beginning literally of Genesis Rashi asks a question Why does the Torah start with the story of creation? Since the Torah is a book of laws for the Jewish People why doesnt it begin with the first law given by G-d to the Jews the law for establishing a calendar?"
He answers the Torah starts with the creation narrative to establish that G-d is the Master of the Universe. Then Rashi says the most amazing thing that still resonates almost a thousand years later. Based on earlier sources and a thorough knowledge of the meaning of Judaism Rashi says So that if the nations come to Israel and say you are thieves in Hebrew she-kevash-tem you conquered and occupied the land from the nations living there you can tell them that all the universe is G-ds He created it and gave it to the nations and when He decided He took it from them and gave it to us."
Three things have become starkly clear in our era:
First that Rashis explanation of the Torah has in fact come true. Jews have returned to the Land of Israel but the UN and many nations claim as Rashi explained they would that we stole the land from others namely the so-called Palestinians.
Second the Israeli Left uses the same Hebrew root/term kibush occupation to denigrate the miraculous victory of the 1967 Six-Day War. It is the same term occupation" used by most of the world in their criticism of Israeli policies in the territories" Judea and Samaria.
Even Ariel Sharon used it at one point to justify his withdrawal from Gaza. It is the language of self-hating Jews those disconnected from Jewish history and tradition and the Judeo-paths among the nations. Occupation is when you steal someone elses land.
The Jewish People liberated parts of the Land of Israel their Promised Homeland in stages first in 1948 and then in 1967 with G-ds help. The Jewish People didnt steal" anything.
And finally that the only basis for the Jewish Peoples national life in their homeland is G-ds promise as set down in the Bible; not history not security but G-ds promise to their forefathers. Only being rooted in Jewish tradition will guarantee long-term survival as it did in nearly 2000 years of exile.
Rashi told the Jewish People He took it from them and gave it to us." And thats what every Jewish leader should continuously broadcast on the world stage.
In a recent UN press conference Trump said:
Well Id love to be able to make a deal with the Israelis and the Palestinians. You know my whole life I was told thats the toughest deal...but were going to take care of that too. Every possible thing is tough about that. I think were going to make a deal..."
So at one of our many meetings today I was with Bibi Netanyahu a man who I have a lot of respect for. A man whos been extremely nice to me very happy that I did the whole thing with Jerusalem and the embassy which by the way we got open in four months..."
And what is Trump expecting in return?
Trump continued ...one of the reporters...asked about the one state two state and I said I think the two state will happen I think its one way more difficult because its a real estate deal because you need meets and bounds and you need lots of carve outs and lots of everything. Its actually a little tougher deal but another way it works better because you have people governing themselves and so they asked me about that. I said well I think the two state will happen I think were going to go down the two state road..."
And Im glad I got it out and Jared whos so involved he loves Israel. He loves Israel. But hes also going to be very fair with the Palestinians. He understands it takes two people to be happy two groups of people to be happy."
Another Jewish traitor to the Land of Israel?
Everybodys got to be happy and thats why its so tough because theres been so much hatred and anger for so many years thats what probably the number one ingredient of toughness is. But they asked me I said I think its going to be a two state. And you know what I did today? By saying that I put it out there. And if you ask most of the people in Israel they agree with that..."
Not true a recent study conducted by the Left-leaning Tami Steinmetz Center for Peace Research at Tel Aviv University found only 43 of Israeli Jews support the two-state solution a 20-year low. Even among the Israeli Jewish Left support fell from 83 to 66.
Trump continued But nobody wanted to say it. Its a big thing to put it out its a very big thing to put it out. Now bottom line if the Israelis and the Palestinians want one state thats OK with me. If they want two states thats OK with me. Im happy if theyre happy. Im a facilitator I want to see if I can get a deal done so that people dont get killed anymore."
When we had in Saudi Arabia we had one of the great conferences in history...we had I believe 58 Muslim countries their leaders the kings the Emirs the absolute leaders from every there was nobody in second place they were the leaders of the whole thing."
And unbeknownst to anybody else people would come up to me individual it wasnt a set up theyd come up to me and say sir you cant have peace in the Middle East without peace between the Israelis and the Palestinians." I said why what difference why does that matter so much?
They said it just is impossible to make peace in the Middle East unless you have between the Israelis.." so I heard that from...the King of Saudi Arabia whose a great guy...And then somebody else came up and he wasnt told oh go up and say it" I know where theyre coming from."
So Trump is sympathetic to the Arab position?
He continued And I must have had 12 leaders say it and they just said it. And I started to realize that peace between Israel and the Palestinians for the Middle East is a very important thing and were trying very hard to get it. I think probably two states is more likely but you know if they do a single if they do a double Im OK with it if theyre both happy. If theyre both happy Im OK with either. I think the two state is more likely..."
Trump thinks its going to be two states...
A true Jewish leader needs to stand up not frightened of Trump or anyone and declare The Master of the Universe took it from them and gave it to us." The Promised Land belongs to the Jews exclusively and not to any other nation.
Any Israeli prime minister who cant get on TV go to the UN General Assembly or any other meeting with world leaders and say these words should quit before rejecting the promises of G-d and participating in a process to help another group take over part of the Land of Israel.
As King David said If I forget you Jerusalem" - a term for the entire Land of Israel - let my right hand wither" - rather than sign any false peace agreement - let my tongue cleave to the roof of my mouth...." (Psalms 137: 5-6) rather than agree to foreigners taking over part of the Jewish Peoples homeland.
Why lie to the Palestinians? Why make them believe they are right that Israel stole" their land? Why participate in a peace process? Why fool them into believing that Israel will give them land and a state?
Netanyahu should tell the world He took it from them and gave it to us."
Whats most important for Israeli leaders and the world to understand is that no matter what the Israeli government decides to do it has no Religious Legitimacy in Judaism. No Israeli leader or government has the moral historical or spiritual right to take away parts of the Promised Land from the Jewish People and give it to others. Its not theirs to do with as they please; the Land of Israel is an inheritance from G-d and it is not for one generation to decide what to do with it. It is also for all future generations of Jews. It will never be accepted by Jews steeped in their heritage and tradition or by G-d.
Ani Maamin..." I believe with complete faith in the coming of the Messiah and even if he takes a long time to come I believe every day hes coming! It is one of the thirteen principles of faith as codified by Maimonides. The Jews will get back their homeland; the Palestinians will not have a state. So why start now so close to his coming?
The Land of Israel was promised to Abraham Isaac Jacob and their descendants the Jews.
The Master of the Universe told them that even though their children will suffer terrible exiles an educational and cleansing process in the end He would bring them home. In the 1948 War of Independence G-d gave political sovereignty to the Jews for the first time in almost 2000 years. In the 1967 Six-Day War G-d returned the Holy City of Jerusalem in its entirety including eastern Jerusalem and the Temple Mount to the Jewish People. Hebron Judaisms second holiest city with the Cave of the Patriarchs the burial place of Abraham Isaac and Jacob and King Davids first capital city before Jerusalem was returned as well. Truthfully Judea and Samaria the so-called West Bank is drenched in Jewish history and Jewish holy sites. Thats why its commonly referred to as the Biblical Heartland".
The Jewish People have been brought home.
Those who have built their world-view on security needs and have claimed that we cannot allow a Palestinian state to come into existence because of that have missed the point. The Palestinians and the world are playing the Peace Card". Even if they promised up and down that there would be a thousand years of Peace" how can Israel spurn G-ds promise?
Members of the ruling Likud Party and the National Camp have for years based their claim to the occupied territories" on historical claim and more importantly have said that for security reasons they couldnt give them away. Rather than remind everyone of the Biblical Promise and that its non-negotiable.
The Israeli Left in contrast has argued for quite some time that control over Judea and Samaria is a security liability and not an asset. They have argued that the only true security is in Peace" with the Arabs and not the status quo. American presidents from Clinton to Obama have basically said the same thing. Trump is following in their footsteps…
The Likud the National Camp the Yesha Council and all those on the Israeli Right" who cant bring themselves to base their claim on the Biblical Promise have missed the point.
The Israeli Left never had it. The world well what can we say? Except He took it from them and gave it to us." There is no spiritual legitimacy to retreat from the Land of Israel. There is no spiritual legitimacy in refusing to graciously receive G-ds Promised Land and fight to keep it. There is no spiritual legitimacy to any of these so-called Peace" agreements Oslo the Roadmap or the Trump Plan."
Netanyahu tell the world the truth He took it from them and gave it to us!"
Ariel Natan Pasko an independent analyst and consultant has a Masters Degree specializing in International Relations Political Economy & Policy Analysis. His articles appear regularly on numerous news/views and think-tank websites and in newspapers. His latest articles can also be read on his archive: The Think Tank by Ariel Natan Pasko.
(c) 2018/5779 Pasko