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We Fear Not
Summary ... How did we overcome all of the odds against us in 1967 and succeed in returning to the cradle of Jewish civilization; Yerushalayim, Hevron, Yehudah, Shomron, and Gaza? We do not fear and are not dismayed. We are too busy building, planting and protecting our Torah, our Land and our people.
"Fear not nor be dismayed" said the L-rd to Yehoshua (Joshua 8.1). I feel very fortunate to be numbered amongst those who are neither afraid nor dismayed. Not afraid of all of the threats publicized by the media, nor by the fact that this anti-democratic, corrupt government is using the courts to take away the most basic civil rights from us. Prime Ministers come and go, governments come and go and the Land of Israel stays.
I have faith, emunah, that since we are doing what we are supposed to, yehieh beseder ("it will be o.k."). My work with the security officer in Katif and the other security officers in Yesha reveals the true situation to me more than even most of my fellow residents in Yesha. But while we must be pragmatic and plan responsibly for possibly difficult situations, we also plan to continue to remain where we are.
I look at the daily lives of our brave, down-to-earth brothers and sisters in Katif and kvel (rejoice) in the simple daily routine. The registration of our children to schools for next fall, the new babies that are blessedly being born, and yes the new homes that are being completed and moved into are a source of enormous gratitude, and pride.
Just the other day when I entered my friend's new home in Neve Dekalim right after they had moved in, and I said the "Shehechianu" prayer with tears of joy and emotion I reconfirmed the constant belief that we are here to stay.
These wonderful people with small children took their dream and implemented it by completing their new home and moving in (davka), specifically now. This week, please G-d, when they have their chanukat bayit (the inauguration of their new home and put up their Mezuzot), it will symbolize to all of us and to the people of Israel that we, the Jewish people have to answer to our G-d and reconfirm our covenant with Him to protect our Torah, our Land, and our people.
As I am constantly saying in lectures or interviews with the press, "This is the Land of Israel — G-d's Land — and no logic or reason pertains to what happens here. How could a mere 650,000 people — mostly refugees barely escaping the horrors of the Holocaust, speaking 30 different languages and with not enough weapons and ammunition, overcome the odds of millions attacking us and survive in 1948?
How did we overcome all of the odds against us in 1967 and succeed in returning to the cradle of Jewish civilization; Yerushalayim, Hevron, Yehudah, Shomron, and Gaza?
How do we time and time again survive the overcoming odds against us? There is no logic in our existence but there is emunah and the proof that we, the Jewish people have returned to never be banished again."
Yes we stumble faced with inadequate, weak leadership, but we go on and shall continue to pray for the miracles we know must come in order to fulfill the promise that we shall never again be banished from our Land. "'And they shall plant on their Land and will no longer be banished from their Land which I gave them', said the L-rd your G-d."
We do not fear and are not dismayed. We are too busy building, planting and protecting our Torah, our Land and our people.
[ Published: June 23, 2005 ]
In Depth Analysis
Where is Palestine?
Where, exactly, might another Palestinian state arise? "Another," because Jordan, constituting two-thirds of Mandatory Palestine, with a "Palestinian" majority population, already is a de facto Palestinian state. And although several international documents clearly state the boundaries of Israel, Netanyahu seems more than happy to change them and give land to Israel's sworn enemies.
Israeli Attack on Iran Won't Follow the American Script
Since Israel's exact capabilities are known only to a handful of senior government officials, it's impossible to predict exactly what an Israeli strike against Iran would look like. But based on past experience, one can confidently predict that it won't resemble the US blueprint. Israel is quite capable of dealing with situations with its limited resources and without provoking massive retaliation.
Is the Peace Treaty Between Israel and Egypt Finished?
The deterioration in relations between Israel and Egypt should serve as a reminder to all that the new generation in the Arab world is not marching toward moderation, particularly when it comes to making peace with Israel or even recognizing its right to exist.
Emet Blog
Benzion Netanyahu and the All Important UN Clause to Save the Jewish State
Benzion Netanyahu, (father of the current Israeli prime minister) who recently died in Jerusalem at the age of 102, along with Irgun activist Peter Bergson (nephew of Mandatory Palestine Chief Rabbi Abraham Isaac Kook), and liberal US Rabbi Stephen S. Wise, drafted an article for inclusion in the United Nations Charter that could yet save the Jewish state. Benzion helped to write the fundamental principle of Zionism — the right of Jewish settlement throughout the Land of Israel — into the United Nations Charter.
Bin Laden Lessons for Israel
The US assassinated bin Laden, tried to kill Hitler, and also hunted and eliminated Saddam Hussein, yet nobody said a word. For every targeted elimination carried out by Israel, it was hit with numerous condemnations and protests, yet the daily US surgical strikes in Yemen, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Libya, and Iraq are met with silence. Every time Israel unintentionally harm civilians, the world raises a hue and cry, yet if it happens in Libya, Iraq, Serbia, or Kosovo nobody protests.
Murder at Tomb Illustrates the Future of Jewish Holy Sites in a Palestinian State
On April 24, 2011 Jewish worshipers at Joseph's Tomb were attacked by members of the US-trained PA/PLO police. One person was murdered and several others wounded. Rather than keep the peace and root out the terrorists who are a threat to the safety of both Jews and Arabs, the PA/PLO police have yet again proven themselves to be a group that is willing to commit acts of terrorism themselves. And this is not the first time they have done this at Joseph's Tomb.
Views/Commentary
Those Contradictory Militants
The mainstream media, politicians, and others, prefer to use the term "militant" instead of "terrorist," especially in the case of the Israeli-Arab conflict. Doing so fulfills many different agendas, in addition to furthering the user's cause. Whatever the case may be, the usage generally distorts the story and causes confusion for the reader, which many times is its exact intention. As with much post-1970s journalism, the longer news media use such language, the less they sound like journalists and the more they are heard as political partisans.
Who Will Teach Tolerance to the Muslims?
There was a time when police officers told battered wives that they had to be more understanding of their husbands. Today they tell Americans to be more understanding of Muslims. They do work hard you know. And if they try to car bomb you sometimes, maybe it's because you don't please them anymore.
But There is a G‑d in Israel
The Jewish exiles shall be ingathered only through faith. If they have it, if they truly believe in the existence of the Creator and Guider of history, the G‑d of Israel, they can bring the final redemption today. Far from fearing what the Gentile will do if they do such a thing, let the Jew tremble as he considers the anger of the Almighty if he does not.
Selected Reading
Reconciliation (Unity) Agreement Between Fatah and Hamas
Under the auspices of Egypt, delegations from the Fatah and Hamas terrorist groups met in Cairo on April 27, 2011 to discuss the issues concerning ending the political division and the achievement of national unity. Both political parties mutually agreed that the basis of understanding made during the meeting are committing to both parties in the implementation of the Palestinian National Reconciliation Agreement. This is the basis of understanding agreed upon by Fatah and Hamas.
The Arab Pulse: What Policymakers Can Learn From "Palestinian" Social Media 
The Foundation for Defense of Democracies (FDD) has released the first-ever study mining the Arabic-language "Palestinian" social media environment to determine Arab public sentiment and its potential impact on US foreign policy. At FDD's direction, the Washington, D.C.-based Web analysis company Constrat viewed approximately 10,000 Arab social media entries between May 3 and August 3, 2010, of which it analyzed approximately 20 percent for relevancy. In the end, the company analyzed 1,788 statements contained within 1,114 unique posts across 996 threads written by 699 authors.
Why Is Israel's Presence in the Territories Still Called "Occupation"?
When an armed force holds territory beyond its own national borders, the term "occupation" is usually used to describe its holding on the land. However, not all the factual situations that we commonly think of as "occupation" fall within the limited scope of the term "occupation" as defined in international law.
Commentaries, Documents, Booklets, and Miscellaneous Materials Relating to the Gaza Strip
These commentaries, documentation, and booklets provide much otherwise unknown information regarding the truth ("emet") about what is really happening in the Arab-occupied/Hamas-controlled Gaza area. Included are weekly and monthly summaries of humanitarian assistance, as well as the infamous Goldstone Report, Israel-related United Nations Resolutions, and miscellaneous materials providing information and analysis of the situation in Gaza.
The History and Meaning of "Palestine" and "Palestinians"
Palestine has never existed . . . as an autonomous entity. There is no language known as Palestinian. There is no distinct Palestinian culture. There has never been a land known as Palestine governed by Palestinians. Palestinians are Arabs. PDF Format