The Foul Plan

There has been world-wide criticism of Netanyahu’s rendition of the Trump Peace Plan which tends to favor Israel’s hopes and aspirations. Although it is not new, having been Netanyahu’s dream and promise for many years, it has turned into a nightmare of hostility in protest marches and in the press.

Unlike Jerusalem, Hebron, Safed (Tsfat) and Tiberias, the four ancient holy cities in biblical Israel, the territories in Samaria and Judea are biblical locations, historical places, but none are considered religious holy places.

For that reason I am very opposed to the Netanyahu plan of West Bank (Judea, Samaria and Jordan Valley) annexation of land that is illegally the present domicile of half-million Israeli Jewish settlers who dispossessed the original Palestinian owners.

The truth needs to be known and not closeted away in the dusty files and archives of our country’s history.

Most of the Palestinians in those areas are the legal owners of the land. Most of them can produce their deed of ownership which was recognized by the previous British mandate.

International law requires that legal ownership and proof of it cannot be over-looked or disputed.

The law goes further in stating that any occupation of land, homes, property, etc. of a country which is occupied is a 100% violation of international law.

Accordingly, Israel has long been in violation. The settlers should be removed and the land returned to its legal and rightful owners.

Nevertheless, as a good Jewish Zionist citizen of beloved Israel, I realize that our present government under dismal leadership cannot— will not— abide by international law.

Heiko Maas, the distinguished German foreign Minister, who arrived in Israel for a head-to-head meeting with our prime minister, hinted without specifying the possibility (probability more correct) of sanctions against us by many, if not most, European countries.

Paris. London. Berlin. Prague. Budapest… you can name the rest by looking at a map of Europe… can sanction us by closing their air-space to all planes to and from Israel.

At best, it affects only Israeli tourists who head for the bargain shops in Europe, better quality and lower prices. They would still need to wear masks.

Why should such a sanction concern us? One sanction can and will encourage others. The European Union and the United Nations are vehemently opposed to Netanyahu’s intended July 1st annexation.

So too is America’s Democratic party and the majority of American Jews who almost 80% have expressed disagreement on annexation.

Joe Biden has made his opinion perfectly clear announcing that he will refuse to recognize Israel’s annexation of legally-owned Palestinian land. He would go so far as to recognize a Palestinian state ! Other countries are now threatening us to do the same if an annexation of West Bank lands happens.

If he joined in sanctioning Israel it might be by not welcoming Israeli diplomats or government leaders to meet with him in the White House. I do not believe that he would cancel any American aid to Israel. The American Congress would veto such a situation.

Netanyahu is overly eager and over-occupied with plans for annexation. Does it take his mind off of his criminal trial?

Either he has forgotten or never knew that in the Aseret Dibrot (the Ten Commandments) which God revealed through Moses, one of the commandments boldly declares LO TIGNOV…thou shalt not steal.

Perhaps in an irrational flash he interprets it to mean “thou shalt not steal from fellow Jews”.

Therefore his assumption is that one may steal from Palestinians. False assumption under Jewish law.

Netanyahu’s plan is not a Peace Plan. Rather it is a Foul Plan which can lead us into tragic situations including the loss of too many lives.

He would be advised to make a trip to Sinai and climb the historic mountain on which God spoke to Moses.

Perhaps he might hear the Eternal Voice which gave the commandments to His Eternal people.