The Israeli Disengagement Plan

RCA Affirms the Importance of Peaceful, Democratic Processes in the Context of Israel’s Plan to Withdraw from Yesha

May 17, 2005 — Whereas the Torah records that Hashem granted the Land of Israel and its eternal capital, Jerusalem, to the Jewish people as an inheritance forever; and,

Whereas the covenant between God and Israel as presented in the Torah includes Jerusalem, Judea, and Samaria, the heartland of Israel, as well as Gaza, as part of the heritage of the Jewish people; and,

Whereas that eternal covenant was proclaimed in the cities of Beth El, Hebron, and Shechem; and,

Whereas the unity of the Jewish People, which is a function of our belief in the unity of the Almighty, is a necessary prerequisite for the Jewish people to achieve its destiny in the world in which we live; and,

Whereas the Torah demands that we do everything possible to love our fellow Jew, to respect other Jews’ property, and to refrain from physical conflict; and,

Whereas, the Rabbinical Council of America is concerned lest brother strike brother and that this may lead to the shedding of the innocent blood of citizens, military, and police personnel;

Therefore, be it resolved that:

The RCA encourages Israel to strengthen the vibrancy of its democracy, its support of free speech and free media, and the ability of its people to speak through its sovereign government. For this very reason, we have read with grave concern allegations that various groups may be intending harm to the life, physical safety or property of innocent Jews and non-Jews, and we hereby declare that such acts are contrary to the full body of Jewish teaching, creed, ethics and practice. Any killing or harming of innocent human beings in this context, Jewish or non-Jewish, which is not for the purpose of self-defense, is morally and religiously reprehensible. Peaceful protests and political activity are the tools that should be used in the democratic process of fighting for a continued and strong presence of Israelis in Yesha (Judea, Samaria, and Gaza).

If an evacuation occurs, it should be done with the greatest sensitivity and honor towards those who gave of their being at the behest of every single Israeli government to settle these parts of Eretz Yisrael.

In this regard the RCA empathizes with the profound pressure placed upon the IDF and Israel’s security forces in this situation.

All Israel are brothers and sisters. All Israel are responsible one for the other. Our strength and our future lies in national unity based upon the principles of Torah as expounded by our sages, of blessed memory. We pray that the Guardian of Israel will safeguard the People of Israel in the Land of Israel.