It is an open secret that the best efforts of 'experts' in the Israeli government have not been able to stem the increasingly downward spiral of the pariah-like status in which the Jewish State finds itself today in the world arena. For believing Jews, however, this is not a mystery, since it is clearly evident that the source of the Middle East conflict, as well as its solution are to be found in the eternal 'road map' for the Jewish people - our holy Torah.



"And you shall make no league with the inhabitants of this land... but you have not obeyed My voice." (Judges 2)



"Those which you allow to remain shall be as thorns in your eyes and as pricks in your sides and they shall harass you in the land wherein you dwell." (Numbers 33)



"And thou shalt eradicate the evil from thy midst." (Deuteronomy 13).



Yet, despite these ominous Biblical warnings, Israel's 'leaders' continue to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory by retreating from the precious land of Israel, thus rewarding YasserArafat and his murderous ilk for their ongoing war of terror.



Compounding this disgraceful and dangerous policy, is Israel's seemingly masochistic need to win approval of every action it contemplates, from the world in general and from America in particular. Witness the urgent haste with which the Prime Minister Ariel Sharon dispatched Vice Prime Minister Ehud Olmert to Washington to 'explain' his intention to uproot 17 Jewish settlements in Gaza.



And what "good news", following his recent 'hat in hand' White House visit, did Olmert bring us?



Oh, joy of joys! The United States accepts the Gaza pullout plan!



One hardly knows whether to bitterly laugh, or cry, at the spectacle of 'Jewish leaders' of the sovereign State of Israel - which, with G-d's help, arose after two thousand years of persecution perpetrated by gentiles in Crusades, Inquisitions, pogroms and the unspeakable Holocaust - now rushing to receive the approval of gentile leaders in the United States. And this, in order to expel countless numbers of their own Jewish brethren from their home in the Jewish homeland!



Ironically, what was the response of Chief PLO terrorist Yasser Arafat (who continues to ply his trade) to Sharon's shameful capitulation?



"It's not enough! Israel must pull back to the l967 borders in order to sign a 'peace' [sic] treaty."



Measure for measure. The more Israel refuses to abide by the sacred Covenant of the Al-mighty, who promised the land of Israel to the Jewish people as an everlasting inheritance, the more the Arab enemies abide by their "covenant" to destroy us.



Generations ago, the great warrior and Psalmist King David understood that a war against Jews is a war against the G-d of Israel. His stirring words ring as true today as in ancient times.



"And they that hate Thee have lifted up the head... and take counsel against Thy treasured ones. They have said, 'Come and let us cut them off from being a nation, that the name of Israel may be no longer remembered.' For they have counseled together with one consent: Against Thee do they make a covenant." (Psalms 83)



Tragically, the painful lessons of history have been lost on the present day leaders of Israel. Ultimately, it is the Jews of faith and courage, not those of fear and compromise, who will win the battle for Jewish survival.