It’s always the right-wing that has to make concessions for the sake of peace. They’re the ones who have to pay the price and divest themselves of their most valuable assets to preserve unity, while the leftists are never prepared to concede anything for peace. The question was asked once: What would happen if the Arabs would demand Ramat Aviv in exchange for peace? Would this pack of bleeding hearts be willing to leave their homes for the cause of “the new Middle East”?
On a peaceful Sunday last month, in the span of just thirty minutes, one of the longest struggles in the history of the settler movement came to an end. A settlement established with great toil and built over a period of several years was razed to the ground. The same familiar scene was played out: hundreds of riot police clad in black, joined by uniformed border patrolmen, took control of the yishuv, struck terror into the hearts of the local residents, and expelled them from their homes. After the residential units were cleared out, the Special Forces completed their appointed task. The settlement of Migron was no more. The battle to preserve the Jewish presence there was “over,” but by no means “done with.”
Prime Minister Netanyahu chose that bitter day to speak about the importance of “the rule of law.” At that same time, the camera lens caught the policemen who completed the expulsion job as they were making a barbecue on the ruins of what was once a beautiful settlement. Just a few minutes earlier, they had finished throwing crying women and children out of their homes, casting their families into the wilderness. Now, the representatives of the “rule of law” had found time to show respect for the settlers’ feelings by making a cookout on the rubble they had left behind.
It’s interesting to consider what would have happened if this had been an illegal Bedouin village in the Negev. How would the media have reacted if Israeli policemen acted this way toward our enemies? The headlines would be plastered with cries of “insensitivity” and charges that we’re harming the exploited and the oppressed.
This time, there was no need for the media to get all excited. It was only a bunch of innocent settlers who purchased land at full price and then were evicted from their homes, despite the fact that the settlement where they were living had been built with the approval of the government of Israel.
There’s something symbolic in these pictures, taken with the policemen’s full knowledge. It represents the stark difference between the sob stories of the Israeli left, the proverbial “robbed Cossack,” and actual reality.
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Just seven years ago, the IDF chief of staff, Gen. Dan Chalutz, established the slogan “With Sensitivity and Firmness” for the military operation to expel the Jewish residents of Gush Katif and the northern Shomron. Less than a year later, he was caught sensitively cashing in his chips, as he sent his soldiers into battle in southern Lebanon – many of who would not return.
This has always been the left’s greatest forte. They speak like very civil and cultured individuals. They appear to the public as being very ethical and considerate, as if they only have everyone’s best interests at heart. However, they end up doing the worst things imaginable. Only such people are capable of speaking about sensitivity while simultaneously throwing their brethren out of their homes.
Over the years, the Israeli left has managed to brand the right-wing community with the label of “hostile settlers.” They always speak quietly and respectfully, using sesquipedalian words. They bring quotes on peace and love, and they declare that they only want the very best for their fellow Jews. In contrast, when someone cries out that they’re taking away his home, they immediately get up and say, “How dare you speak that way! Talk with a little respect…”
The right-wing’s image problem stems from the left’s ability to turn them into an over-emotionally outraged community, as they continue to fight for their homes. They turn every struggle into an emotional one, as if the right-wing continues to cling to their homes simply because they’re small-minded people, unwilling to compromise.
The reality however has always been quite different. It’s always the right-wing that has to make concessions for peace. They’re the ones who have to pay the price and divest themselves of their most valuable assets to preserve unity, while the leftists are never prepared to concede anything for peace.
The question was asked once: What would happen if the Arabs would demand Ramat Aviv in exchange for peace? Would this pack of bleeding hearts be willing to leave their homes for the cause of “the new Middle East”?
The slogans of the Israeli left always work the same way. They’re very big talkers, experts in forging campaigns to sway public opinion. The left-wingers know better than anyone else how to sit in a studio and speak sweetly about the importance of peace.
In recent years, the right-wing in Eretz Yisroel has begun to change its strategy. In the past, when people would ask why they are so agitated and upset, they would become perplexed and try to play the leftists’ game, appearing to be just as nice and pleasant as they are… Now, a new generation has arisen that has no problem if they don’t seem pleasant. Besides, there’s nothing pleasant about being forced out of your home. It’s not pleasant when people come along and take action against you using methods of deception and underhandedness. Wars are not waged merely by posing for the camera. When you’re fighting a war, you sometimes have to get your hands dirty, even scream out and say that someone is stealing your home, for otherwise we’ll be just pleasant gentlemen with no land and no security.
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At the disgraceful expulsion from Gush Katif, the settler leadership preferred being photogenic to fighting for their homes. They preferred the nice pictures of smiles and embraces, as long as they didn’t appear like a bunch of lunatics determined to fight irrationally for what they believe in. All the pleas and requests by those who sought to awaken the national consciousness to the realization that expelling Jews from their homes in Eretz Yisroel would not pass quietly went to no avail. All the claims against this unethical injustice were for naught. In the final analysis, they preferred looking good to fighting for their principles.
The results are known to all: The media took some excellent pictures of the settler leadership, and everyone spoke about how civil and pleasant they were. Yet, just six months later, then-prime minister Ehud Olmert announced his intention to uproot all the residents of Yehuda and Shomron. When someone demonstrates an unwillingness to fight to preserve his home – why should we show any respect for him?
The Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach, did not waver in speaking about the issue of shleimus ha’aretz in the firmest possible manner, even when it appeared that his words had no effect and those listening did not seem to be impressed. On the contrary, he expressed this position with resolve before every policymaker and politician who came to visit him. The Rebbe showed no hesitation, and he was prepared to say things that weren’t pleasant to hear. The main objective was to convey the clear and simple message that this is our land, given to us by Divine right, not through the kindness of others.
The Rebbe brings us a most instructive example on how to wage a real battle without compromise. There’s no need to be pleasant and pose nicely before the camera. That’s not the way to preserve the security of the residents of Eretz HaKodesh.
Over the years, the Rebbe showed respect for every Jew, and he always spoke to the heart of the matter without seeking to offend anyone. However, this in no way interfered with his role as the faithful shepherd of Israel, who truly cares for the Jewish People, not ch”v for his personal image. The Rebbe’s approach never included hesitancy or proposing ill-advised compromises that can harm our ability to stand firm in protection of Eretz Yisroel’s security. The Rebbe always kept the reality of the situation in line with the G-dly truth. The G-dly truth is that no one has ownership over this land except those who received it as an eternal inheritance.