We Have No Other Land. Nowhere Else to Go

A new film titled No Other Land has gained international acclaim, portraying a negative view of Israel and its policies. The very name of the film is provocative, meant to stir emotions and shape perceptions about the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. But for the Jewish people, the statement “We have no other land” is not a political slogan—it is a historical and existential truth.

The Reality Check: Eternal truth from Golda Meir, Israel’s fourth Prime Minister

Golda Meir once famously said, “The Arabs have 20 states, but the Jews have only one. We have nowhere else to go.” This simple yet profound truth encapsulates the struggle of the Jewish people and their right to their homeland.

I am sharing this clip from Instagram of Golda Meir, which highlights then the hypocrisy. Maybe this is God’s plan for our return to all parts of our historical homeland.

“If Hussein hadn’t gone to war in 1967, the West Bank would have been in his hands. If Assad hadn’t gone to war, the Golan Heights would have been in Syria if Nasser hadn’t gone to war in 1967. The Sinai Desert and the Gaza Strip were in his hands.

Who were the Palestinians then? (Why was there not a mention of the Palestinian people?) 

And why do people, good people, tell us, if you had only some Israelis as well if you had only gone back to the 1967 borders after the war, then I always ask a foolish question, but I haven’t heard one single wise answer. If the 67 borders are so holy, why was there a war in 67? All these territories were in the hands of Arab countries.

There is an Arab people that has 20 independent countries with thousands and thousands and thousands of kilometres, square kilometres, and we have about 1% of that entire territory.”

https://www.instagram.com/reel/DEXKbxwRl2O/?igsh=MWJ3aGt5emlqamMx

Beshalach – Nowhere to Go: The Children of Israel Have Nowhere Else to Go

The Torah portion Beshalach tells the dramatic story of the Exodus, where the Children of Israel—not merely a wandering tribe, but the ancestors of modern-day Israelis—find themselves trapped between the Red Sea and the advancing Egyptian army. Fear grips them, and they cry out to Moses: “Were there no graves in Egypt, that you have brought us here to die in the wilderness?” (Exodus 14:11). Their only hope for survival is divine intervention—the miraculous splitting of the sea.

This moment of despair is one of the most profound in Jewish history. The Israelites had just witnessed miraculous plagues and gained their freedom from centuries of slavery, yet here they were, once again cornered with no clear path forward. Only through divine intervention—the splitting of the sea—are they saved.

This story is not just a tale of ancient times. It echoes through Jewish history, a recurring theme of being surrounded, trapped, with seemingly no way out. Whether during the expulsions of Spain, the pogroms of Eastern Europe, or the horrors of the Holocaust, the Jewish people have often found themselves with nowhere to go.

Today, as we stand in our ancestral homeland of Israel, the story of Beshalach feels more relevant than ever. Once again, we are surrounded by those who do not want us here, who reject our right to live freely in the land of our forefathers. And once again, we must find the courage and wisdom to chart a path forward—one that ensures our survival and our future.

Israel: The Modern-Day Splitting of the Sea

In 1948, after millennia of exile and persecution, the Jewish people miraculously reclaimed their homeland. Israel became the refuge that Jews throughout history had yearned for. Yet, just as Pharaoh refused to let the Israelites go, Israel’s enemies today refuse to accept the Jewish people’s right to exist in their own land. From Hamas rockets in Gaza to Hezbollah’s threats in the north, from Iran’s calls for annihilation to relentless international delegitimization, the siege continues.

The establishment of the State of Israel in 1948 was nothing short of a miracle. For the first time in two millennia, the Jewish people had a home, a refuge, a place to go. Israel became the safe haven that our ancestors in Egypt, Spain, and Europe could only dream of—a homeland where Jews could stand tall and defend themselves.

But the enemies that surrounded us in 1948 are the same enemies that surround us today. From Gaza in the south to Hezbollah in the north, from Iran’s threats of annihilation to the ongoing incitement in Judea and Samaria, we face a relentless tide of hatred and rejection. The two-state solution, often presented as the answer to our troubles, has proven to be nothing more than another false dream. This mirage risks turning our borders into battlegrounds and creating another terror state in our midst.

Gaza: The Warning from History

We have already seen the dangers of relinquishing land to those who do not seek peace. In 2005, Israel unilaterally withdrew from Gaza, uprooting thriving Jewish communities in hopes of fostering peace. Instead, Gaza became a launching pad for terror. Hamas took control, turning international aid into rockets and terror tunnels. Thousands of rockets have rained down on Israeli cities, traumatizing countless families and forcing millions to live under constant threat.

This is the reality of what happens when land is handed over to leadership that prioritizes destruction over coexistence. Gaza serves as a warning for what would happen if a similar scenario unfolded in Judea and Samaria.

Judea and Samaria: The Two-State Fantasy

The international community has pursued the dream of a two-state solution for decades, but it ignores the fundamental realities on the ground. The Palestinian leadership in Judea and Samaria, like Hamas in Gaza, has shown no interest in peace. The Palestinian Authority glorifies terrorists, educates children to hate, and repeatedly rejects any proposal that acknowledges Israel as the Jewish homeland.

A Palestinian state in Judea and Samaria would not bring peace. It would bring war closer to Israel’s heartland. The region’s highlands overlook major Israeli cities like Tel Aviv and Jerusalem, making them prime targets for attacks. A Palestinian state would become yet another terror base, just as Gaza has.

Jordan is Palestine: A Historical Solution

The true solution to the conflict lies in acknowledging the historic role of Jordan as the Palestinian state. In 1922, the British Mandate divided the land of Palestine, allocating 77% of it to create Transjordan (now Jordan), which was designated as a homeland for Palestinian Arabs. Today, Jordan has a majority Palestinian population and is better equipped to absorb and support those seeking a better life than the fragmented and unstable territories of Gaza and Judea and Samaria.

Encouraging voluntary emigration to Jordan and other neighboring Arab states is not a radical idea—it is a pragmatic solution addressing the conflict’s root causes. It offers Palestinians the opportunity to escape poverty, violence, and corruption while ensuring Israel’s security and future as the Jewish homeland.

I cannot resist to write about the latest developments about Presidents Trump’s Announcement about the US taking over Gaza. Sharing what Einat Wilf wrote, “Finally, if I’m Jordan, I finally recognize how valuable Gaza is. I will make a play for it – offer to provide temporary or permanent refuge to Gazans – and, in return, take over Gaza as a Jordanian foot in the Mediterranean. I would then offer Israel to give back the Arabs of the West Bank the Jordanian citizenship that was stripped of them in exchange of Israel allowing two train routes from Jordan into Gaza through the West Bank and from the Red Sea, creating competition to the Suez Canal. (and if I were Egypt, I would try to prevent Jordan from doing this and offer to take over Gaza myself).

Bottom line: the President’s proposal highlighted this: Gaza is an incredibly valuable piece of territory. Whoever can figure out how to change its politics from the current ones of obsessive destruction to forward-looking construction will greatly benefit themselves and the region more broadly.”

A Humane and Pragmatic Path Forward

This is not about forced expulsion but about providing real choices. The Arab world has vast territories and resources that can be used to support Palestinian populations far more effectively than the terror-driven leadership in Gaza or the Palestinian Authority ever could. International aid and regional cooperation could make this vision a reality, fostering stability and prosperity for all involved.

This solution would achieve several critical objectives:

1. Ending Terror: By dismantling the infrastructure of extremism in Gaza and Judea and Samaria, Israel could focus on building a secure future.
2. Humanitarian Relief: Palestinians who choose to emigrate would gain access to better opportunities and improved living conditions.
3. Regional Cooperation: Arab nations would take responsibility for their Palestinian brothers and sisters, fostering a more stable Middle East.
4. Protecting Israel: A secure and thriving Israel, free from constant terror threats, would be a cornerstone of regional stability.

The Eternal Lesson of Beshalach

In Parsha Beshalach, when the Israelites stood at the edge of the sea, God told Moses, “Why do you cry out to Me? Speak to the Children of Israel and let them go forward.” (Exodus 14:15). The sea did not part until the people took that first courageous step forward.

Today, Israel stands at a similar crossroads. Surrounded by enemies and faced with false solutions, we must find the courage to take bold steps forward. We must reject illusions like the two-state solution and embrace pragmatic, long-term strategies that secure our future.

Israel is our home, our refuge, our modern-day sea split. But to ensure its survival, we must act decisively, with clarity and conviction. Like the Israelites at the sea, we must go forward, trusting in our strength, our faith, and our right to live freely in the land of our ancestors.

A Message of Hope

Throughout history, God has saved us in our darkest moments. The Red Sea split. The State of Israel was reborn. And today, we remain strong.

But unity among ourselves is also crucial. As one teaching goes, If we are kind to one another and show respect even to those with different views, we create a Kiddush Hashem—a sanctification of God’s name. Unity for a common cause has the power to overcome any obstacle.

Israel is our past, our present, and our future. We will not be trapped again. We have no other land—and we never will.