Mr. Prime Minister, It’s Time to Throw the Knockout Punch and Reconquer Gaza!

BS”D

October 10, 2023

Timeless Torah from the Lubavitcher Rebbe

“Why do the leaders not learn the lesson from the results of the retreats in 1948 and 1956 (not to mention those that have since followed)?  Why do they not understand that it is forbidden to agree to retreat from the territories.

No intelligent person would agree to rely on the Nations, certainly not on the assurance of Egypt or Russia (or the US or the Abraham Accords) which are solely concerned with their own interests.

How can one not understand that the cease-fire was needed by Egypt only for (future) war preparations.

In a passionate voice, with tears of emotion and pain choking him, the Rebbe recounted the words of the Haftorah in which the Prophet Isaiah (50:2) says: “Why have I come to give you warning and there is no man listening, I have cried out and there is no response.”  The Lubavitcher Rebbe in an interview with reporter Yona Cohen in 1970

It’s time to throw the knockout punch and reconquer Gaza!

“Be prepared for a protracted campaign” because the conflict with Gaza is a kind of “exchange of blows that doesn’t end with one punch”– Prime Minister Netanyahu in S’derot, Monday, July 16, 2018, following an especially difficult weekend, in which Hamas fired 200 rockets over Southern Israel, one week shy of the 13^th anniversary of the Expulsion from Gush Katif.

Mr. Prime Minister, no more exchanging blows – you must immediately grant permission for the IDF to throw the knockout punch and bring the Arabs to their knees in complete surrender.

The State of Israel must reverse its policy of territorial and security concessions and rescind its commitment to the string of foolish “peace” plans first conjured up after the Six Day War and repeated over the last five and a half decades that have gone against all common sense and Judaism’s imperative to protect and save life above everything other consideration.

Reconquering the Gaza Strip and toppling the entire Hamas/Palestinian Authority infrastructure along with their backers operating there is the ORDER OF THE DAY. 

Following that, the State of Israel must assert its full unconditional military and sovereign control over Gaza as well as in Judea and Samaria and over all of Yerushalayim.  

The Coastal Road Massacre

On March 11, 1978, the PLO and its Fatah military division, still in operation today under the Palestinian Authority in Judea and Samaria, carried out a devastating terror attack on Jews known as the Coastal Road Massacre.

Commandeering a bus full of Jewish passengers on their way up North from Tel Aviv, the terrorists’ intent was to kill Jews and sabotage the peace talks between Israel and Egypt.  By day’s end, 38 Jews including 13 children had died Al Kiddush HaShem, shot to death by the terrorists or dead from the explosion ignited to blow up the bus; 71 others survived wounded and traumatized.

Retaliating a few days later Israel launched Operation Litani, going into southern Lebanon where the PLO was ensconced, destroying many but not all of their enclaves from the air, on the ground and by sea, coming up just short of Tyre not far from the Litani River.

Before the week was out, however, the UN Security Council along with the US began pressuring Israel to withdraw from Lebanon or face international censure and the loss of military aid.

Although in some ways Operation Litani was a success, conceding to pull back before completely routing the enemy weakened Israel’s watch over PLO activity in Lebanon and the repercussions have been grievous ever since:   brutal, vicious terror attacks, wars, soldiers killed and several still missing in action and the threat from Hezbollah, Iran’s proxy.

Litani Lessons – Then and For Now

“There are two reasons for the success of the Litani military action. First, Israeli leaders realized the situation was life-threatening – a matter of Pikuach Nefesh.  Rather than arrange multiple meetings and proclamations, the Israeli military experts decided (and were allowed) to take action.

They took action immediately without publicizing the incursion or asking for the opinions of the 120 Members of Knesset, among whom sit non-Jews and Muslims and those who make their decisions upon receiving their orders from Moscow.

Hence, they succeeded in filling the terrorists with dread and fear as the Torah describes: “They will flee from before you in seven directions!”

If only Israel’s military actions for the future would follow this mode of no prior publicity!

The government’s conduct must be with strength according to Jewish Law that shows the Jewish Nation is One and united with an indestructible bond with the One G-d in accordance with the One Torah.

With this stand, Israel will rule over its enemies and trepidation will fall upon them and the Nations of the World will come to the assistance of the Jewish People who are walking in the path of their Faith!”  Words of encouragement from the Lubavitcher Rebbe three days after the Litani Incursion.

Do not stop until the operation is complete and the patient is well on

the road to lasting recovery!

The pressure from the UN, the US and other world powers to cease fire and retreat from Gaza is going to be enormous.

Speaking further about the Litani incursion, the Lubavitcher Rebbe said, “It is vital to continue with the utmost energy and complete the action – not with one step forward and then sending delegations to the entire world to hear the response of the one who sits in Washington or what will they say in Moscow, London or Paris, etc., asking if Israel may go forward with the next step or not.”

We call on Israeli leaders to stand strong and not give in to demands that will harm the security and welfare of the Jewish People.

Resettle Gaza without delay

In one moment, within the span of a single day

“Whatever has taken place until now is the past.  Going forward, may it be the Will of G-d that the few who fear the “rustling of leaves” and try to drag everyone else down with them into subservience will be enveloped by a Spirit from Above and Jewish communities will settle, unhindered, in all of the areas in the Land of Israel and without delay.” The Lubavitcher Rebbe speaking two weeks after suffering a heart attack on Shemini Atzeres in 1977

Peace upon the Land

The message for our time is clear:  The Jewish People must stand with absolute fortitude over our right to dwell throughout the Land of Israel and we must dwell there fearlessly.  Only then will we see the fulfillment of G-d Almighty’s promise that: “I will grant peace in the Land, and you will lie down with no one to frighten you; I will remove wild beasts from the Land, and no army will pass through your land.”  Vayikra 26:6