Friday's
10 Minutes of Torah is designed to present a diversity of editorial
viewpoints from Jewish papers.The following editorial is from the March
4, 2010 issue of the
J Weekly and is reprinted with permission.
Historical sites are
important, but not at the cost of fresh peace talks
One would be hard pressed to find Jews who do not
value the Torah and the Holy Land. Every square inch of biblical
Israel is significant to the Jewish people.
But many of those same biblical sites are just as
important to Palestinians. And there’s the rub.
We understand why Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin
Netanyahu recently declared the Cave of the Patriarchs and Rachel’s
Tomb as Jewish historical sites warranting new funding for upkeep.
However, we question his timing. Because both
sites are in the West Bank, the declaration deepened Palestinian
suspicions that Israel is insincere about a peace deal that would
transfer parts of the West Bank to a new Palestinian state.
Israel should be doing everything reasonable to
bring the Palestinians to the table. This just gives them an easy
excuse to say “no.”
As our story on page 12 notes, of all the current
bad news on the Middle East diplomatic front, this declaration may
prove the most inflammatory. Netanyahu says politics played no role in
his decision. Even if true, there can be no avoiding the subsequent
political fallout.
Netanyahu says he wants Jewish youth to be able
to visit the sites and connect with their heritage. In a perfect
world, he would be absolutely correct. But this is not a perfect
world.
Israel has long understood that the bumpy road to
peace has required painful sacrifices. Giving up the Sinai and the
Gaza Strip, not to mention the release of hundreds of jailed
Palestinian terrorists over the years, attest to that.
Thus it makes little sense to make this
declaration now. Not because we dispute the historical significance of
the Cave of the Patriarchs and Rachel’s Tomb. That is beyond measure.
But such a declaration has real consequences on
the ground. Israel would certainly renovate the sites, spurring
tourism and perhaps prompting more Jewish settlement.
Despite a government spokesman saying the
declaration does not change the status quo, in fact it does.
Palestinian protests quickly erupted in Hebron,
and they may spread. In the near term, this could cause Israel
security headaches. Or worse.
When it comes to the Israeli-Palestinian
conflict, some issues are black and white, the moral clarity apparent.
Whether stopping suicide bombers, or combating efforts to undermine
Israel’s legitimacy as the Jewish homeland, we know what’s right and
what’s wrong.
But in this case, we would urge the Israeli
government to at least postpone the declaration, turn down the
political heat and get back to the business of peace talks.
Chile Earthquake Relief
On
February 28, 2010 an earthquake struck Chile, killing hundreds,
displacing thousands and causing widespread destruction. The Jewish
Coalition for Disaster Relief, of which the Union for Reform Judaism is a
member, is accepting donations for Chile. Click here to
make an online donation.
On January 12, 2010 a devastating earthquake struck Haiti,
causing untold damage and loss of life. The Union for Reform Judaism
has opened a disaster relief fund to assist the affected community. Go
to www.urj.org/relief to make a
donation or obtain more information about the Union’s relief efforts.
Registration is now OPEN for the Fourth Annual Israel
Kallah to be held April 29-May 9, 2010 in Jerusalem.
Developed by the Saltz International Education Center of the World
Union for Progressive Judaism. Join us as we study, pray and travel
the Land of Israel.
Save the date: Summer Learning Institute, August 4-8, 2010,
Glen Cove Mansion, Glen Cove, NY. Program includes Kallah, Had’rachah
and Interfaith Fellows. For more information, http://urj.org/learning/meetings/summer/
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Minutes
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