Anyone who truly seeks the root of the failure will return to that unfortunate decision, which was called 'disengagement.' Without that displacement, the murderous attack could not have occurred. • Column by Rabbi Menachem Brod
The Mishnah lists five calamities that befell the people of Israel on Tisha B'Av: Our ancestors (in the wilderness generation) were forbidden to enter the Land of Israel. The First Temple was destroyed. The Second Temple was destroyed. The city of Betar was captured. Jerusalem was plowed up after the destruction.
More unfortunate events occurred on Tisha B'Av, and the most difficult of all – the expulsion from Spain. And twenty years ago, another painful and burning calamity was added to this long list – the destruction of the flourishing region of the Gaza Strip, the demolition of prosperous Jewish settlements and the expulsion of some ten thousand Jews from their homes.
Everything was expected.
There is much talk about the need for a commission of inquiry into last year's Simchat Torah disaster. Anyone who is truly looking for the root of the failure will return to that unfortunate decision, called the 'disengagement.' It is crystal clear that without that displacement, which led to the rise of Hamas, the murderous attack on the Gaza Strip could not have taken place. And what hurts most of all – that what was expected to happen was crystal clear.
We went to leaf through the dozens of articles written in this issue, in the months before that terrible plan was carried out. It's all written there, in black and white:
""We are faced with a plan that is empty of content and has no logical component, except for the very fact of fleeing under fire and the terrible trauma of destruction and displacement. Some support it because they see the displacement of Jews from their homes as an end in itself, so that it is possible to celebrate their destruction. Others support it for narrow political considerations – to give 'backing' to the Prime Minister. And why the Prime Minister himself supports it – one can only guess" (Issue 930).
""Terrorism will not decrease, but quite the opposite, it will only intensify and increase, God forbid, when the Gaza Strip becomes an inexhaustible weapons depot and a huge training camp for terrorists" (Issue 970).
""The crime of deportation is despicable, inhuman, and unJewish. The dangers that this process brings upon us are terrible. The suffering that now befalls the residents of Gush Katif is nothing compared to the pain that we all suffered (and wish we were healed) from the consequences of this escape from terror. But as believing Jews, we are certain that even from this destruction we will rise and recover, and after the terrible destruction will come great consolation" (Issue 972).
The many are like a ray of light
In those days of eclipse, when the media and security commentators were mobilized to promote the expulsion, the rabbis of Israel were the ray of light that shone in the darkness. There were voices that wondered why the rabbis did not go with the herd. We wrote about this:
""Fortunately, Israel's rabbis and halachic authorities do not follow empty slogans and recruited media propaganda. They try to examine things for themselves, according to clear standards provided by Jewish law. They ask one question - is it good for the people of Israel, is it going to give more security to Jews, is it going to strengthen our strength to stand up to our enemies.".
""It is no wonder, then, that the rabbis vehemently reject the plan and see it as a grave danger. They are voicing the voice of common sense and the concern of the Torah of Israel for the well-being of the people of Israel. So far, it has been proven that the rabbis were right and that the 'peace' and the Hasidim of the retreats were not deceived" (Issue 930).
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