“The Land is Ours”
By Arlene Kushner
On Thursday, I attended the Second Annual Conference on the Application of Israeli Sovereignty over Judea and Samaria, held in Hevron, at the visitors’ center near the Machpela and sponsored by the Women in Green (with organization done by Yehudit Katsover and Nadia Matar). Several hundred people were in attendance; with perhaps miniscule exceptions of which I was unaware, they were all firm believers in the need for, and the rightness of, that sovereignty from the river the sea.
What seems to me the single most important impact of a conference such as this one is that it brings together those who passionately care about this issue, providing not only information, but a huge morale boost and an opportunity to network. It’s really great to be at a conference at which no one says, “Wait, what about the Palestinians’ right to their state?” Because everyone gets it.
Rabbi Professor Daniel Hershkowitz, who heads the HaBayit Hayehudi party, and is Minister of Science and Technology, was the keynote speaker.
Credit: YNet
First, he said, we have to believe. And with this he delivered a message that was heard again and again. The beginning is with us, the Jews of Israel. We cannot claim to the world our right to the land — although indeed we must do this! — until we believe in that right.
Rabbi Hershkowitz called upon the prime minister to adopt the Levy Report as binding, for it puts in legal terms what is written in our texts. The Jewish People connects to the Divine Presence in the Land. And what we need now is action, not words. We must live in every part of Eretz Yisrael (the Land of Israel).
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His call for action was most important. Because it struck me during the conference that as uplifting and important as the statements about our land are, what is needed are plans of actions and guidelines for moving forward to make it all happen.
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Attorney Gershon Mesika, the head of the Shomron (Samaria) Regional Council, echoed Rabbi Hershkowitz’s theme: Sovereignty, he said, must first be in our heads. Do we see ourselves as grasshoppers, as the Jewish spies going into the land of Canaan did?
Credit: YNet
In the Bible we have a deed to the land of a sort that no one else has. It spells out our rights and yet we are always apologizing. We need to be on the offensive on all fronts and come out against Oslo.
Mesika told the story of having gone to Brussels in May to speak to the EU parliament. He related that to his surprise, some applauded him when he was done. Never before, he was told, had an Israeli come to address the parliament in such clear terms. The Palestinians always come to say what they demand, but the Israelis speak in terms of deals and give and take.
Said Mesika at Brussels:
“…this area [Samaria], which for many in the world is nothing but ‘disputed land,’ is a homeland for us, the place that characterizes and determines our national and religious identity, the scene of the great events described in the Book of Books, the Bible.”
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Attorney Daphne Netanyahu, editor of the Hebrew “Maraah” [mirror] Internet magazine, expanded upon one of the major themes of the conference: There is an absence of willingness to accept sovereignty, she told us. It is not enough for others to give us our rights, we have to be prepared to accept them.
We need the national courage to apply sovereignty of the land, and the leaders are the obstacle.
Credit: JPost
A running difference of opinion among speakers at the conference had to do with whether it’s better to wait until all of Judea and Samaria can placed under Israeli sovereignty or to begin with Area C (as defined by Oslo) and follow with the rest later.
Rabbi Hershkowitz is adamant about the need to annex everything at once, even if it means waiting until the time is right. Otherwise, he said, we would be de facto relinquishing the right to the areas we didn’t annex — we’d be making a distinction between one part of our claim and another.
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MK Uri Ariel (National Union) spoke about a political program for achieving full sovereignty, from the river to the sea, one step at a time.
Credit: 103 fm
First, via the mind, with acceptance of the Levy Report and an understanding of the situation that is absorbed by the populace.
Then, facts on the ground, with the goal of 500,000 Jews living in Judea and Samaria — a goal we are approaching.
After this, establishment of sovereignty one step at time, beginning with Area C. This should be done as soon as possible. If it were done today, there would be roughly 379,000 Jews in this Area, and some 60,000 Arabs, all of whom should be accorded full civil rights. He spoke about what would be necessary as this unfolded, with half the Knesset elected by regions. He pointed out in passing that Arabs in Jerusalem, who have the right to secure citizenship, behave as residents — with only 10% voting in municipal elections; he anticipates that this might be the pattern in Judea and Samaria.
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Emanuel Shilo, editor of Be’Sheva, had yet another approach: Start with annexation of the Jordan Valley. This signal Israel’s intent in terms of how far sovereignty will ultimately extend, and the case can be made on a security basis. Then follow with Area C.
While Carolyn Glick, columnist and JPost senior editor, who addressed the gathering by video, observed that we’re likely to take the same heat whether we annex just Area C or all of Judea and Samaria. She anticipates that the worst reaction will come from the Europeans and not the Arabs; in the PA itself, she sees the “Security Forces,” armed and trained by the US, as presenting the worst problem.
Credit: CJNews
Attorney Itzik Bam of the Legal Forum for the Land of Israel gave a fact-filled and enlightening presentation about the current legal situation in Judea and Samaria.
Very briefly: In 1948, when the Arab League attacked Israel and the Jewish state acquired territory beyond what had been defined by the petition plan, the Ministry of Defense took over temporarily and then it was decided that sovereignty would be applied to whatever land Israel acquired.
Before the Six Day War in 1967, the Military Advocate General anticipated that a war was coming and so he laid out a military plan, using the Sinai situation as his model. It was the only plan that was prepared when we acquired Judea and Samaria, and so the area was treated as an occupation with military rule — even though the example of the Sinai was not applicable. It was determined that Jordanian law would continue to apply except as the Israeli Military changed it.
>Until there is negotiation, as called for under Oslo, military law continues to apply. But Judea and Samaria are not occupied territory according to international law. It is undetermined in its status — a unique situation, as there is no sovereignty to which the land might be returned. Israeli sovereignty can be introduced, just as we applied Israeli law to eastern Jerusalem.
Howard Grief, attorney and author of the book, The Legal Foundation and Borders of Israel Under International Law, offered a strong presentation based on his exceedingly extensive research of 25 years duration, into the legal rights of the Jewish state. He addresses the historical situation going back almost 100 years in terms of allocation of the Ottoman Empire, San Remo Conference and a great deal more.
He concurred with Bam that the Military Advocate General was responsible for an exceedingly bad decision in 1967, but he disagrees with regard to the notion that Judea and Samaria currently have questionable or undetermined status. Absolutely and unequivocally, he says, the land is ours.
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Credit: Wikipedia
>It is hoped that in not many years the right wing nationalists will represent the majority opinion of Israel.
“For those that value international opinion, we would remind them that not a single embassy graces Jerusalem. Yes, not even the western part of the city. Does this mean we should be prepared to relinquish sovereignty over our capital city? David Ben-Gurion already decided this matter in 1949 when he chose to move the Knesset to Jerusalem. Begin decided when he passed the law annexing the Golan Heights.“Now it is our turn to decide.”
@ Bernard Ross:
The ACID TEST for Nationalists is whether or not they’ve seriously tried to educate the population about their legal rights to Yesha.
Absolutely!
It’s not enough for Yesha leaders – grassroots or Yesha Council – to say “this is our land, we want to build and live here”.
It’s not enough for grassroots leaders to send their youth to build outposts. Build-Build. And then what?
It’s not enough for top government officials to give stirring speeches about the link of Jews to their land. But when the media accuses those officials of occupation, they don’t dispute it, they just change the subject or blame the Arabs for the fact that Jews have not surrendered their land yet. (I’ve listened to them doing that!)
What’s needed is the assertion of Israel’s legal rights at every opportunity, and the challenging of those who deny these rights.
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What about the National Union? They do a lot of good things but they remain content to be a token nationalist presence in the Knesset.
Why?
Are they observing certain predetermined limits?
Has someone told them not to dare to campaign for more adherents? Or to go on a major educational campaign?
And now read what the National Union MK said at the meeting:
MK Uri Ariel (National Union) spoke about a political program for achieving full sovereignty, from the river to the sea, one step at a time.
First, via the mind, with acceptance of the Levy Report and an understanding of the situation that is absorbed by the populace.
(AND HOW LONG would that take?)
Then, facts on the ground, with the goal of 500,000 Jews living in Judea and Samaria — a goal we are approaching.
(THERE WE GO AGAIN: We don’t have enough Jews to do the right thing)
After this, establishment of sovereignty one step at time, beginning with Area C.
(IN OTHER WORDS, It’s our land, but no, wait, we won’t take all of it. Just a little bit. I assure you that sovereignty over areas A and B will go really smoothly after this)
AND….. ISN’ THIS the government’s plan as well? To annex Area C?
This should be done as soon as possible. If it were done today, there would be roughly 379,000 Jews in this Area, and some 60,000 Arabs, all of whom should be accorded full civil rights.
(HE ALREADY DECIDED to give them full civil rights, whether they want them or not! Not even an attempt at discussing alternatives. Such as granting citizenship to only those without criminal record, with other conditions attached, and only after each individual swears an oath of allegiance to the Jewish state…And that Israel or a private organization could raise funds to relocate Arabs who want to emigrate)
(DOESN’T HE KNOW that the full citizenship proposal is the equivalent of throwing a wrench into the works? Many Jews FREAK OUT at the idea.)
He spoke about what would be necessary as this unfolded, with half the Knesset elected by regions.
(MORE CONDITIONS before the sovereignty vote.)
He pointed out in passing that Arabs in Jerusalem, who have the right to secure citizenship, behave as residents — with only 10% voting in municipal elections; he anticipates that this might be the pattern in Judea and Samaria.
(HOPING that they won’t vote? HOPE as a strategy?)
Although I love them dearly, I’ve singled out the National Union MK because of our high expectations. And because of their lack of interest in expanding their base since the last election. It was their chance to go out there on a massive campaign to educate the population about Yesha sovereignty and other key issues.
They’ve been active with the infiltrators issue and they’ve presented some excellent bills in the Knesset. They’ve done a lot of good. But they refrain from expanding their base. Why?
And now this timid and sure-to-fail approach to full sovereignty. Why?
I want to add that the behavior of the successive GOI’s is solely to blame for today’s situation of delegitimizing the rights of Israel and the Jews. Lack of GOI action proves to the world that Jews are the interlopers and the thieves. The GOI has been a very poor agent for the Jewish rights of settlement and a very poor example(light”) to the world
It is my view that educating the Jews to the LEGAL rights of Jews to Israel is prime in that I believe that once the majority of Jews accept these arguments that Jewish unity will prevail over world opinion. I still rarely see the simple legal clause exposed to Jews in these various forums, as the prime legal basis, that SAn Remo treaty, the League of Nations Mandate and the UN Charter(which obligates its member to fulfilling the L of N mandates)explicitly “encourages” Jewish settlement west of the JOrdan river. This is a strong and simple LEGAL internationally binding principle that can be insisted on as a basis for unilateral action. Even before any annexation there is no reason, that I have ever read, why the govt of Israel obstructs this Jewish legal right. Perhaps it is not thought that this can be demonstrated in a court of law but it is only necessary to have a strong legal argument as a basis for action(in the court of world opinion). I find a very self destructive jewish trait which the GOI has exampled through the years in that as they have not arrived at an acceptable solution for arab demographics on the west bank they have decided to limit jewish settlement. I also notice that Jews, unlike the arabs, must first win a legal argument in the court of their mind before proceeding to prosecute the argument in the real courts. This of course demonstrates an extreme vanity and a lack of faith in that their perceived outcomes will be the only available options. I believe that those attending the conferences should be bringing legal action to compel the GOI to fulfill the international law regarding the right of Jewish settlement. The case does not have to be won but it will focus jewish minds on the facts surrounding these tihgts and how the world has systematically swindled the jews from these rights.
@ yamit82:
The truth is that I don’t know.
Yamit:
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It’s hard to tell because I don’t really know them personally.
Sometimes I can guess from their record, sometimes from intuition. That’s all.
But at least some of them must be honest.
However….
However, if I were there, I would distrust every one of them.
Not because they may be deliberately dissembling, but because of our human tendency for self-deception. Many in Israel still believe they have a “right wing” government, that the US government is their ally, and that peace with the Arabs is possible if only Israelis find the magic formula.
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Some may want to scuttle this movement for what they consider the right reasons, such as the presence of all those Yesha Arabs. It’s a legitimate concern. The group will have to explore options to automatic citizenship. There are some.
Others may tremble at the mere thought of upsetting the international community. They will need a little history lesson and a large dose of courage. With patience and lots of hand-holding, that can be provided too.
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I take if for granted that if the people who attended the conference get really serious, ‘the powers that be’ will try to apply their usual ways of persuasion.
That’s why they need to form an effective organization. If anyone takes any step to influence them or pressure them the wrong way, they should automatically denounce them. There’s safety in numbers. If there’s a strong and democratic organization their adversaries will know that if they remove one leader, there will be others ready to take his place.
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In any case, experience is the best teacher. What went wrong in the past? How have people been misled? How were good leaders co-opted? These are all issues that need to be analyzed and taken into consideration.
Anyway, they should beware of all those who try to apply the breaks and to sow fear – whatever their motivations.
There’s momentum now… Full speed ahead!
Mesika is a fool and represents many other Jewish fools who believe what Arabs tell them or can’t believe that anyone would prefer their own however difficult than to live under a foreign entity and culture.
The Arabs retort to the statement: “That all they ever created was a desert” …:
“But it’s our desert”
@ Canadian Otter:
How do you know which is which?
GASP! Annexation has become RESPECTABLE!
🙂
Annexation NOW!
Separate the eagles from the turkeys.
If the eagles wait for the turkeys to pick up altitude and speed, the SOVEREIGNTY NOW MOVEMENT will flounder.
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Annexing what’s already yours should be a no-brainer. But opinions are still divided.
One main point of disagreement seems to be timing. Some people think that 45 years are not long enough.
That they should wait some more.
That they should wait for more settlers.
That they should wait for the “right moment”
That they should proceed one step at the time.
PEOPLE – BEWARE!.
Some of those are honest opinions.
Beware of those who want to give the government more time to implement its Plan for Disengagement from Areas A and B.