According to those who know, when Menachem Begin flew to Camp David, he didn’t really think that he would return home with a signed agreement on uprooting Jewish settlements and recognizing the “Palestinian” people. He just wanted to give honor to the Americans by coming to a peace conference. However, the end of the story was an inconceivable tragedy for which we are paying the price to this day. Even when Yitzchak Shamir flew to the Madrid Conference, he too merely wanted to show respect for the Americans – but that was too much for the Rebbe. He toppled Mr. Shamir’s government in order to put an end to any discussions on dividing Eretz Yisroel and placing the security of its millions of Jewish residents in mortal danger, simply in order to “show respect for the Americans”…
1.
The President of the United States, Mr. Barack H. Obama, made some very interesting headlines last week when he chose to put the government of Israel in the limelight over its strong difference of opinion with his Administration. To his defense, the American chief executive stated that differences of opinion are legitimate. He twice declared that in the final analysis, the government of Israel has the responsibility for protecting its citizens, and it cannot place matters of security in the hands of others.
It would seem that Obama said these things as a means of avoiding all responsibility. However, the fact that he makes such statements testifies to the great precision of the Rebbe’s words declaring that whenever the government of Eretz Yisroel stands up and expresses a firm principled opinion, it merits the respect of the United States.
Who other than this president could initiate a public confrontation with his counterpart in Yerushalayim? He humiliated Netanyahu, publicizing his picture to the whole world with his legs propped up on the table while he spoke with the prime minister. Obama has become a symbol of enmity towards Netanyahu. However, he has also made some clear statements regarding those principles that the Israeli premier has steadfastly chosen to advance. Mr. Obama did sign a most questionable agreement with Iran, granting a degree of legitimacy to their development of atomic weapons for “peaceful purposes.” Yet, he also understands fully that the government of Eretz Yisroel cannot stand by with arms folded in the face of this Iranian threat. As a result, he eventually made a most truthful declaration: America cannot guarantee Eretz Yisroel’s security.
2.
The Rebbe’s position on the issue of U.S.-Israeli relations is known to everyone. This is the same Netanyahu who heard from the Rebbe a lesson in diplomacy, regarding the manner in which we ought to conduct ourselves before the world. Netanyahu is familiar with the Rebbe’s teachings, and he knows that this is the only way to act. However, he makes one crucial mistake: While he carefully evaluates every argument of principle with the United States, he saves all his big moves for the really “front burner” issues, such as the agreement with Tehran. On all other matters, he prefers to cut corners, even though he realizes the madness of remaining silent in the face of Iran’s development of atomic weapons.
Netanyahu is trying very hard to appease Obama. At every opportunity, he lets the president walk over him. He thinks to himself that the most important thing is to save his energy for the true “red lines” – and that’s his mistake. Mr. Obama tramples on the prime minister, because he knows that Netanyahu doesn’t really agree with him. Nevertheless, Netanyahu subserviently accepts the American dictates, believing that it’s better to endure all the misunderstandings in order to maintain control over those red lines. However, the reality of the situation is quite different. If Netanyahu would conduct a principled debate on every issue, there would never be a need for him to fight for our very survival.
Just three years ago, Netanyahu imposed a freeze on all Jewish construction in Yerushalayim, Yehuda, and Shomron, as a means of appeasing this same Barack Obama. This was his way of welcoming the president to his new job: a guaranteed ‘yes’ from the Israeli prime minister, someone who had previously claimed that he was the leader of the nationalist camp, as he spoke from the balcony at Tziyon Square. Obama has managed to internalize this message quite well: The Israeli prime minister isn’t really fighting for his principles. He’s even prepared to cut corners on those issues of greatest importance to him. The main thing is to appease the American president.
3.
The subject of Iran’s nuclear weapons program, which has seriously troubled the Israeli public recently, has drawn attention away from the real issue. Behind the scenes, talks continue with great vigor between the leaders of the terrorist organizations and Cabinet members from the pseudo-rightwing Israeli government. Last week, one of the “Palestinian Authority” ministers claimed that Justice Minister Tzippi Livni is determined to produce a peace agreement. It seems that this is the case; she’s literally prepared to give away everything. They’re discussing Yerushalayim, the Arab refugees, a virtual return to the June, 1967 borders – and all this is happening without a single right-of-center party in the political opposition. There isn’t a cry of protest anywhere – everyone’s too busy dealing with more pressing issues, such as Iran, drafting the ultra-Orthodox into the army, and opening non-rabbinical offices for marriage services. However, beyond the probing eye of the national and world media, they’re dealing with another matter entirely. A serious discussion is presently underway on the issue of constructing a wall through the very heart of Yerushalayim, dividing the city between the capital of the Jewish People and the capital of an independent ‘Palestine’ r”l.
The Americans know how to meddle in these talks as well. Netanyahu has no desire in advancing such negotiations. He is quite aware of the potential danger they carry. He is no fool, and he knows that there’s no evading responsibility here. The prime minister understands the severe consequences of missiles placed on the border with Kfar Saba and Raanana. However, he lacks the moral courage to tell the Americans, “Enough!”
“The Secretary of State is asking for talks? Let him have his talks. What do you care?” the right-wing parties claim. “No one really thinks that they’ll amount to anything.” The problem is that we’ve already been down this road twice before.
According to those who know, when Menachem Begin flew to Camp David, he didn’t really think that he would return home with a signed agreement on uprooting Jewish settlements and recognizing the “Palestinian” people. He just wanted to give honor to the Americans by coming to a peace conference. However, the end of the story was an inconceivable tragedy for which we are paying the price to this day.
Even when Yitzchak Shamir flew to the Madrid Conference, he too merely wanted to show respect for the Americans – but that was too much for the Rebbe. He toppled Mr. Shamir’s government in order to put an end to any discussions on dividing Eretz Yisroel and placing the security of its millions of Jewish residents in mortal danger, simply in order to “show respect for the Americans”…
4.
When the Rebbe cried out against the bloodletting peace agreements, including the autonomy plan, he also mentioned the aspect of Chillul Hashem in reference to the idea that the Jewish People would even discuss slicing up the land given to our forefathers as an everlasting inheritance.
There can be no greater desecration of G-d’s Name than when Yerushalayim is the setting for a discussion on dividing Eretz Yisroel, and no one dares to say a word in dissent. The concessions of the Oslo Accords and similar agreements are a mere drop in the bucket compared to those Mr. Netanyahu and Ms. Livni are prepared to make. They are conducting serious negotiations on relinquishing all territories liberated in the Six Day War from their Arab neighbors – just as the Rebbe foresaw.
These are the same territories that G-d gave to us through tremendous miracles and wonders, and as the Rebbe repeatedly mentioned, giving them away would be the greatest Chillul Hashem. However, anyone who fails to recognize G-d’s direct and immediate involvement in the process of liberating these territories is forced now to deal with a loss of ideology, as he is no longer convinced that he is following the right course.
In the face of this terrible chillul Hashem, there is only one path the Rebbe taught us to follow – protest through love. Not a protest of hatred or dispute ch”v, but a protest based on pure love – love for the Jewish People and concern for its welfare.
5.
And the Americans – even on the subject of the “peace agreements” – they know how to respect a firm and courageous Jewish stance, far more than the Israeli politicians do. They believe in the Tanach and in their currency, which proclaims most proudly “In G-d We Trust.” They also have greater appreciation for an Israeli prime minister who declares with a clear voice that the Greater Land of Israel was given to us through the revealed and wondrous miracles of the Six Day War. Furthermore, since the Hand of G-d was undeniably the guiding force in the entire conflict, he has no right to enter negotiations on territorial concessions, thereby endangering Jewish lives. Only in this manner can we put an end to the obsessive involvement in partitioning Eretz Yisroel and bring true peace to our people.