At least two million Palestinians live in Judea and Samaria. All the experts warn that the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is a barrel of explosives that endangers our future here, even if we try with all our might to ignore it. Indeed, for decades the issue has fueled countless discussions, articles, seminars, tours, books, films, seminars, and what not. The feeling is that you can no longer see the forest for the trees.
As with other political issues, here too the endless rhetoric and demagogy of politicians on the right and left create a fog of battle that prevents us from putting our finger on the issue and accurately identifying who is against whom. So what are we really being asked to do with two million Palestinians?
If we look at the Israeli political map, and for a moment ignore the background noise in favor of focusing on the content instead of the stars, we will notice two central solutions that lie before us. The first solution suggests that we strive for separation from the Palestinians. In contrast, the second solution, which advocates the expansion of settlements, including those not in the settlement blocs, suggests that we annex the Palestinians.
That's the bottom line.
Proponents of separation believe that expanding settlements, which are not in the settlement blocs, will create an extremely complicated geographical and humanitarian situation, which will prevent us from defining "who is here and who is there" in the future and separating from the Palestinians. They claim that in such a situation the world will present Israel with an ultimatum that will tell it: "Economic sanctions that will destroy your economy, or granting citizenship to the Palestinians!""
Anyone who finds this scenario far-fetched is invited to see how sanctions are currently crushing the economy of Great Russia (which is known for being "unapologetic"...), or read a little about the history of South Africa.
The end of the State of Israel, physically and Jewishly
Either way, sooner or later international pressure will probably take its toll. And like South Africa, which was completely destroyed by sanctions, and no amount of explanations or muscle-flexing helped, the State of Israel will also be forced to grant citizenship to two million or more Palestinians.
Now that they are citizens of Israel, the Palestinians will vote in the elections and determine the fate of the state. Then, slowly but surely, Palestine, from the river to the sea, will not be "liberated" by arms, but by the ballot box. This will be the end of the State of Israel as a Jewish state.
At the same time, in stark contrast to those on the left who do not allow the facts to confuse them and insist on withdrawals here and now, of course the security risks involved in withdrawing from the Judea and Samaria territories cannot be ignored. Therefore, the separation solution opposes any withdrawal, as long as the Palestinian side is not truly willing to recognize our existence here, and as long as the security interests of the State of Israel have not been guaranteed.
Since we want to ensure that we do not find ourselves in a situation where we have no choice but to grant citizenship to Palestinians, we should build in the settlement blocs, but in no way expand the settlements that are not in the blocs. As mentioned, such an expansion would create a geography that would force us to forever marry the Palestinians, with all that this implies. (including assimilation). Without a doubt, when circumstances no longer allow us to separate from the Palestinians, even the most right-wing among us will desperately miss the time when we could still divorce them.
If I were Palestinian
On the other hand, in the face of the solution of separation, parties like "Habayit Hayehudi" and that of Eli Yishai, actually lead to the annexation of the Palestinians to us, instead of keeping the option of divorce open. No matter how religious they may be, people like Eli Yishai and Naftali Bennett see the short term, and do not understand two important things that the Torah teaches us. The first is the verse in which Abraham says to Lot: "Separate me, I pray you, from me to the north and to the right, and from me to the right and to the left." And the second is the verse in the Book of Deuteronomy that says: "Remember the days of eternity, between us two generations.".
In the first verse, our forefather Abraham teaches us that we should strive to separate from our enemies, and not to incorporate them into our midst. After all, there is no greater risk than bringing the enemy into our own home. In addition, the second verse teaches us to observe history, and on this basis to shape the future. It can be said with certainty that observing human history will teach us that if we do not strive to separate from the Palestinians, they will eventually become part of us ("Ahmed ben Sarah" we already said?...)
If I were a Palestinian who dreams of Haifa, Jaffa, Acre, Lod, and more, I would very much like Netanyahu to continue as prime minister. And to keep him on the right, I would be debating between Eli Yishai and Naftali Bennett. My initial inclination was to actually support Yishai, because he seems more credible than Bennett (it's all relative, of course). On the other hand, the fact that an independent body awarded Eli Yishai the title of "the laziest Knesset member" would ultimately tip the scales in Bennett's favor.
Either way, as a Palestinian, I would welcome any construction in settlements that are not in blocs, and I am very happy that the Zionists are putting themselves in their shoes. Only then will all of Palestine be liberated.
But what, Yishai and Bennett will say: The land is important to us, we will not give up even a single inch or two of land for the sake of the Arabs. And about this, Maran Rabbi Ovadia Yosef, may God have mercy on him, has already said: "I will abandon Jewish souls for a piece of land?! For a mountain or a hill?!"...
The author is a writer and social activist.
Join the Haredim 10 Facebook page >>
Join the X page of Haredim 10 >>
Want more news, videos and stories? Join the Haredim 10 WhatsApp channel >>
