After the expulsion of Jews from Gush Katif, one thing has become clear: eviction is a legitimate tool of the State of Israel. Forcibly moving thousands of people, and wrecking their today for the country's tomorrow, is doable.
After such a precedent, it is now legitimate to explore the topic of a different kind of eviction - that of the Arabs from the Jewish homeland.
Let us begin such an exploration at the beginning - with the Torah; namely, with this week's parsha, VaYera. Genesis 21 reads:
From this one line in the Torah, we learn two immutable facts: 1) there is a contest between Isaac (the Jewish people) and Ishmael (the Arabs) over the legacy of Abraham; and 2) inheritance (yirusha) and eviction (gerush) are inextricably intertwined, and in fact, the two words are etymologically related. There is no "two-state solution", there is no "peace process" - there is only the cold, hard, Middle Eastern way of life. For one son to inherit, the other must leave.
Abraham, on the other hand, does not except this hard line: "The thing was very grievous in Abraham's sight on account of his son."
Abraham loves both his sons and he cannot simply expel Ishmael, his good conscience will not let him evict the "Arab". Abraham probably thought to himself that maybe some kind of arrangement can be reached - a division of the land and the inheritance between Isaac and Ishmael?
Abraham, the first Jew, is also the first Jewish left-winger - he is overly merciful toward his trouble-making son. Next time you encounter a leftist, remember that his disposition probably comes from a love of humanity and a hate for suffering - a trait of our forefather Abraham.
However, we know from the Talmud that one who is merciful to the wicked will eventually be wicked to the merciful. True love for humanity means justice for the innocent and punishment for the wicked. Justice is the only road to peace, never deal-making or pandering.
Sarah understands this and is warning Abraham, 'There is a great danger here, and we must nip it in the bud.' Still, Abraham is ruled by his feeling for Ishmael and he just couldn't do it. So G-d had to step in: "G-d said to Abraham, 'Don't let it be grievous in your sight because of the boy, and because of your handmaid. In all that Sarah says to you, listen to her voice.'"
G-d does not issue Abraham a new directive - he simply affirms what has been said - 'Do what Sarah tells you to do.' Why doesn't G-d just say, "Expel Ishmael"? To teach you that Sarah's human instincts were correct. Eviction is within the sphere of human relations and expulsion is a legitimate act in dealing with an enemy. We do not need a special G-dly message - expelling the Arabs is something our better half has been advocating for some time.
But G-d does add: "For from Isaac will your seed be called."
Isaac is the true inheritor of Abraham's covenant. Isaac will carry the spark of Judaism to the next generation. Isaac will be bound on Mount Moriah and almost sacrificed. Isaac will walk to the Land of Israel and he will never leave it.
Not Ishmael.
"Also the son of the handmaid will I make a nation, because he is your seed."
Ishmael is, indeed, Abraham's offspring, and he will be blessed with tons of oil, wealth and a hefty chunk of the Middle East landmass. But not everything is his. There is a small, special land that belongs to a small, special people - and the Arabs have no right to it. Bamidbar 33 tells us:
After years of unrelenting terrorism, and now the eviction of Jewish people from Jewish land, one thing is for sure: the Arabs are muscling in on our rightful inheritance.
They use any means they can, violence, diplomacy, birthrate and settlement, to get rid of us. Their talk of peace is a transparent lie.
We must recognize that the Arabs are: A) blood-shedders, who have B) usurped our land, and C) want to expel or exterminate us completely.
In the wake of the Gush Katif expulsion, it is time to turn the tables, and to start talking seriously about ending the Arab occupation of the Galilee, the Negev, Jaffa, Haifa, Judea, Samaria and, of course, Jerusalem.
The time has come for us to hear the hard-line, inspired truth of our matriarch Sarah: "Cast out [garesh] this handmaid and her son! For the son of this handmaid will not inherit [yirash] with my son, with Isaac."
It is time for us to "listen to her voice" and evict those who would evict us.
After such a precedent, it is now legitimate to explore the topic of a different kind of eviction - that of the Arabs from the Jewish homeland.
Let us begin such an exploration at the beginning - with the Torah; namely, with this week's parsha, VaYera. Genesis 21 reads:
9. Sarah saw the son of Hagar the Egyptian [Yishmael] , whom she had borne to Abraham, mocking [Isaac].The contest for inheritance begins early - who will succeed Abraham? Who will inherit his land, his riches, and his blessing? As a small child, Ishmael was already bringing violence, lewdness and idolatry into the household. Sarah notes Ishmael's behavior, especially his jealousy of Isaac. She no doubt knew that her husband Abraham was very connected to Ishmael, and yet, she must have thought the problem was important enough to demand: "Cast out [garesh] this handmaid and her son! For the son of this handmaid will not inherit [ki lo yirash] with my son, with Isaac."
10. Therefore she said to Abraham, "Cast out [garesh] this handmaid and her son! For the son of this handmaid will not inherit [yirash] with my son, with Isaac."
11. The thing was very grievous in Abraham's sight on account of his son.
12. God said to Abraham, "Don't let it be grievous in your sight because of the boy, and because of your handmaid. In all that Sarah says to you, listen to her voice. For from Isaac will your seed be called.
13. Also of the son of the handmaid will I make a nation, because he is your seed."
14. Abraham rose up early in the morning, and took bread and a bottle of water, and gave it to Hagar, putting it on her shoulder, and gave her the child, and sent her away.
From this one line in the Torah, we learn two immutable facts: 1) there is a contest between Isaac (the Jewish people) and Ishmael (the Arabs) over the legacy of Abraham; and 2) inheritance (yirusha) and eviction (gerush) are inextricably intertwined, and in fact, the two words are etymologically related. There is no "two-state solution", there is no "peace process" - there is only the cold, hard, Middle Eastern way of life. For one son to inherit, the other must leave.
Abraham, on the other hand, does not except this hard line: "The thing was very grievous in Abraham's sight on account of his son."
Abraham loves both his sons and he cannot simply expel Ishmael, his good conscience will not let him evict the "Arab". Abraham probably thought to himself that maybe some kind of arrangement can be reached - a division of the land and the inheritance between Isaac and Ishmael?
Abraham, the first Jew, is also the first Jewish left-winger - he is overly merciful toward his trouble-making son. Next time you encounter a leftist, remember that his disposition probably comes from a love of humanity and a hate for suffering - a trait of our forefather Abraham.
However, we know from the Talmud that one who is merciful to the wicked will eventually be wicked to the merciful. True love for humanity means justice for the innocent and punishment for the wicked. Justice is the only road to peace, never deal-making or pandering.
Sarah understands this and is warning Abraham, 'There is a great danger here, and we must nip it in the bud.' Still, Abraham is ruled by his feeling for Ishmael and he just couldn't do it. So G-d had to step in: "G-d said to Abraham, 'Don't let it be grievous in your sight because of the boy, and because of your handmaid. In all that Sarah says to you, listen to her voice.'"
G-d does not issue Abraham a new directive - he simply affirms what has been said - 'Do what Sarah tells you to do.' Why doesn't G-d just say, "Expel Ishmael"? To teach you that Sarah's human instincts were correct. Eviction is within the sphere of human relations and expulsion is a legitimate act in dealing with an enemy. We do not need a special G-dly message - expelling the Arabs is something our better half has been advocating for some time.
But G-d does add: "For from Isaac will your seed be called."
Isaac is the true inheritor of Abraham's covenant. Isaac will carry the spark of Judaism to the next generation. Isaac will be bound on Mount Moriah and almost sacrificed. Isaac will walk to the Land of Israel and he will never leave it.
Not Ishmael.
"Also the son of the handmaid will I make a nation, because he is your seed."
Ishmael is, indeed, Abraham's offspring, and he will be blessed with tons of oil, wealth and a hefty chunk of the Middle East landmass. But not everything is his. There is a small, special land that belongs to a small, special people - and the Arabs have no right to it. Bamidbar 33 tells us:
50. G-d spoke to Moses in the plains of Moab by the Jordan at Jericho, saying,Notice that in this incontrovertible directive to evict our enemies, the same word is used for driving out as for possession. 'Possession' won't happen unless and until you 'drive out'.
51. Speak to the children of Israel, and tell them, When you pass over the Jordan into the land of Canaan,
52. then you shall drive out [vehorashtem] all the inhabitants of the land from before you, and destroy all their figured [stones], and destroy all their molten images, and demolish all their high places:
53. and you shall take possession [vehorashtem] of the land, and dwell therein; for to you have I given the land to possess it.
55. But if you will not drive out [torishu] the inhabitants of the land from before you, then shall those who you let remain of them be as pricks in your eyes, and as thorns in your sides, and they shall vex you in the land in which you dwell.
After years of unrelenting terrorism, and now the eviction of Jewish people from Jewish land, one thing is for sure: the Arabs are muscling in on our rightful inheritance.
They use any means they can, violence, diplomacy, birthrate and settlement, to get rid of us. Their talk of peace is a transparent lie.
We must recognize that the Arabs are: A) blood-shedders, who have B) usurped our land, and C) want to expel or exterminate us completely.
In the wake of the Gush Katif expulsion, it is time to turn the tables, and to start talking seriously about ending the Arab occupation of the Galilee, the Negev, Jaffa, Haifa, Judea, Samaria and, of course, Jerusalem.
The time has come for us to hear the hard-line, inspired truth of our matriarch Sarah: "Cast out [garesh] this handmaid and her son! For the son of this handmaid will not inherit [yirash] with my son, with Isaac."
It is time for us to "listen to her voice" and evict those who would evict us.