DA'AS TORAH (A HALACHIC RULING) ISSUED BY THE MOST PROMINENT RABBIS IN ISRAEL CONCERNING TERRITORiAL COMPROMISE IT IS A MATTER OF LIFE OR DEATH TO THE MILLIONS OF JEWS RESIDING IN ISRAEL

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As you can see below, there are many Rabbanim (Rabbinic Leaders)  in Eretz Yisroel that say that giving away parts of Eretz Yisroel is Pikuach Nefesh (dangerous).  I believe that this consensus came out prior to the expulsion of Gush Katif.  The situation in Gaza today reflects how the Daas Torah ruling was on the mark.

What is missing are the names of the Moetzet Gedolei Hatorah, the network of Rabbis from the OU, the Young Israel and Chabad International.

Rav Eliashiv, the most widely accepted Rabbinic Leader in the chareidi circles seems to agree with the ruling below.  In a speech made by Rav Perlow, Rosh Agudath Yisroel, at the Agudah Convention in 2007  he quoted Rav Eliashiv as saying that giving away parts of Eretz Yisroel, and it was implied that he was referring to Yerushalyim, would make the security situation worse.  In addition Rav Perlow publicly stated in that same speech that  the expulsion from Gush Katif was disastrous.

What is missing is a public statement from the Moetzet Gedolei Hatorah that will serve as a stepping stone to mobilize Am Yisroel, the nation of Israel  via their vast internal networks, databases, mailing lists and access of the media, to publicize their rulings as news and publicly claim our entitlement to Eretz Yisroel.  This would create a Kiddush Hashem, a sanctification of G-d's name. . 

Our collective silence regarding the ongoing peace process, releasing of terrorists etc indicates our collective support for decisions being made for us by the Government of Israel, the United States of America, the European Union and the UN.

Even if we rally with the government of Israel's at this present time to go into Gaza,  how can we ignore their willingness to establish a Palestinian State putting the entire Israel into danger

Every morning in our daily prayers in Hodu in Psukei Dzimra, taken from Chronicles 16 we recite

"Zichru LeOlam Briso, Davar Tziva LeElef Dor, Asher Karas es Avraham, Ushvuoso LeYitzchok. Vayaamideha leYaakov  leChok, LeYisroel Bris Olam, Lamor, Lecha Etain Eretz Canaan, Chevel Nachalaschem" 

Remember forever His covenant, - the Word He commanded for a thousand generations, - that He made with Abraham and His vow to Isaac, ...then He established it for Jacob as a statute, for Israel as a covenant everlasting. To you I shall give the Land of Canaan, the lot of your inheritance.  (interlinear translation from Artscroll Schottenstein edition page 80 )

The note on the bottom of the Artscroll reads as follows:

"For a thousand generations. G-d's word". - His covenant with Israel  - lasts for a thousand generations - a poetic expression meaning forever.  He sealed His covenant with Abraham, designated Isaac as Abraham's successor, and then chose Jacob over Esau, thus making Israel His chosen people everlastingly (Tzilosa D'Avraham)

"Sing to Hashem" As we find repeated in Prophets, all nations will follow Israel's lead in recognizing and serving G-d. The fourteen verses alluded here refer to those days.  However, David also referred to a salvation that occured in his own lifetime. The Philistines had captured the Holy Ark and destroyed the Tabernacle at Shiloh. But the presence of the Ark in the Philistine cities brought plagues upon them.  Recognizing the hand of G-d in their suffering, the Philistines returned the Ark with a gift of tribute to G-d.  'The same will happen in future times when Israel's oppressors will recognize G-ds majesty.

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DA'AS TORAH (A HALACHIC RULING) ISSUED BY THE MOST PROMINENT RABBIS IN ISRAEL

CONCERNING TERRITORIAL COMPROMISE

IT IS A MATTER OF LIFE OR DEATH TO THE MILLIONS OF JEWS RESIDING IN ISRAEL

There is a definitive ruling in the Shulchan Aruch (Code of Jewish Law), Orach Chaim 329-6, which states: "if a band of heathens have surrounded a Jewish city (on Sabbath), if their intention is only to rob, we may not desecrate the Sabbath to defend our property. If their intention is to kill or even if their intention is unknown but there is a reason to suspect that it might be to kill - then we are to go forth against them with weapons and we may desecrate the Sabbath for this purpose.

However, if the city in question is close to the border, then even where their intention is only to rob 'straw or stubble', we are commanded to desecrate the Sabbath to defend the city against them. " The RAMA ads: "even if they have not yet arrived but are only preparing to arrive". The RAV's Shulchan Aruch amplifies: "However, if the city in question is close to the border, then even where their intention is to rob straw and stubble, we desecrate the Sabbath to defend the city against them, for if we will not do so they might capture this (strategic) city - and from there it will be easier for them to conquer the rest of the land. This coincides with Rashi's comments (in Eruvin 45a) on the word "Border": "If it is a city that separates the border of Jews from the border of other nations then we must go out against them to prevent them from conquering this city, for from there it would be easier for them to conquer the rest of the land."

The ruling in Shulchan Aruch pertaining to a city close to the border is clear: "Even if the attackers only come to rob straw and stubble (i.e. they claim they want peace, not territory) one is obligated to take up arms and go out against them. If there is a possible question of Pikuach Nefesh, i.e. if Jewish lives are jeopardized, then even if it is a SAFEK SFEKA (a remote doubt), one must desecrate the Sabbath - because one is forbidden to allow even the most remote possibility of making it easier for the land to be conquered.

The current situation in our Holy Land us far more severe then that depicted in the Shulchan Aruch, for a number of reasons:

1) all settlements and towns in Israel are currently under discussion for transfer to Arabs "for the sake of peace", are not only towns close to the border: they are themselves the border.

2) The Arabs are not coming here for 'straw and stubble': they are declaring publicly that they want Jerusalem, Ramla, Lod, Jaffa and the Golan Heights.

3) The Israeli government's policy today is (heaven forbid) to surrender territories on a silver platter, by its own initiative. This will endanger all the residents of Israel, for it will open the way for attackers to conquer the entire land. Hence, this is certainly a matter of Pikuach Nefesh, without any shadow of doubt. In such a case the Shulchan Aruch rules (and no one contests this ruling) that one must take up arms and go out against them on the Sabbath, so that it will not be easy for them to conquer the land.

Many ask: 'is it Halachically permissible to surrender territories for peace?"

in our opinion, this question is misleading. If it is asked with all sincerity than it should be rephrased to read: "Is it permissible to jeopardize the Jews residing in Israel, to place them in a situation of Pikuach Nefesh, by handing over border towns to the Arabs, and receive in return (at the best…) a piece of paper?!!" As we now, unfortunately, witness, the mere negotiations on transferring settlements to the Arabs have encouraged the terrorists to intensify their attacks against Jews, in every part of Israel. It is frightening to just think what will happen (G-D forbid) if the government hands over those border towns.

The Torah which is a Toras Chaim (a Torah of life) provides the answers to every question that can arise in daily life, and it certainly has an answer to such a fateful questions which affects millions of Jews. The unequivocal ruling in the Shulchan Aruch is resoundingly clear: it lights up the way and guides us how to act in this case according to Torah. The ruling is that IT IS FORBIDDEN, UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES, TO HAND OVEER PARTS OF ISRAEL TO THE ARABS.

To this I affix my signature:

Rabbi Eliyahu Abuchatsera Chief Rabbi Nazrat                      Rabbi Yechiel Abuchatsera Chief Rabbi Ramla

Rabbi Eliyahu Abutbul Naharia                                                Rabbi Shlomo Aviner Chief Rabbi Beth El

Rabbi Asher J. Avidan Chief Rabbi Z'rachia                            Rabbi Israel Ariel "Machon Hamikdash"

Rabbi Aviad Binyamin Chief Rabbi Shafir area, of the Israel Chief Rabbinical Council Jerusalem

Rabbi Tsemach Abraham Chief Rabbi Yanov                         Rabbi Abraham Agiashvili Kiryat Ata

Rabbi Joseph Aberky Chief Rabbi Kiryat Yam                         Rabbi Tzvi Y. Adler Tel Aviv

Rabbi Moshe Admon Chief Rabbi Elishama                              Rabbi Natan Oirechman Akko

Rabbi Chananya Edri Ashdod                                                 Rabbi Jacob Edrei Or Yehuda

Rabbi Boruch Eidelstein Haifa                                                Rabbi Chaim Iram Chief Rabbi Elazar

Rabbi Aaron Aizental Chisipin                                                 Rabbi Refael Alashvili Chief Rabbi of Russian

Jews in Israel

Rabbi Mordechai Eilon Jerusalem                                           Rabbi Mordechai D. Altain Beiar Ilit

Rabbi Eliezer Altshuler Susya                                                Rabbi Shmuel Eliahu Chief Rabbi Tsfat

and Galilee Area

Rabbi Israel Elizera Chief Rabbi Ashdod                                 Rabbi Jacob Halevi Elyashiv Chief Rabbi Kiriat Yam

Rabbi Shimon Almaliach Chief Rabbi Atlit                               Rabbi Yitschak Alfasi Tel Aviv

Rabbi Jacob Alkabetz Chief Rabbi Achuzam & Lachish           Rabbi Moshe Alkabetz Chief Rabbi Ma'agalim

Rabbi Yonatan Elran Chief Rabbi Kochav Hashachar               Rabbi Eliyahu Asulin "Beit Eliezer" Chadera

Rabbi Jacob Ariel Chief Rabbi Ramat Gan                               Rabbi Mordechai Ashkenazi Chief Rabbi Kfar Chabad

Rabbi Azriel Ariel Chief Rabbi Ateret                                       Rabbi Michael Erlich Tel Aviv

Rabbi Moshe Ashkenazi Chabad Tel Aviv                               Rabbi Josef Ba - Gad "Nechalim" Yeshiva

Rabbi Yehuda Baharav Kiryat Malachi                                     Rabbi Moshe Butchko Chief Rabbi Kochav Jacob

Rabbi Moshe Biegel Chief Rabbi Meitar                                   Rabbi Ovadya Bidani Tel Aviv

Rabbi Tuvia Blau Jerusalem                                                    Rabbi Josef Blau Chief Rabbi Megilot Tamar

Rabbi Joseph Y. Belinov Bney Brak                                       Rabbi Yinam Ben Harush Oranit

Rabbi Elchanan Bin Nun Chief Rabbi Shilo                              Rabbi Moshe Havlin Kiriat Gat

Rabbi Shlomo Ben Chamo Chief Rabbi Kiryat Gat                   Rabbi Eliezer Brod Chief Rabbi Karmey Yosef

Rabbi Menachem Ben Jacob "Machon Meir" Jerusalem          Rabbi Yechiel Gavra Yavne

Rabbi Matanya Ben Shachar Chief Rabbi Neveh Daniel          Rabbi Azarya Basis Chief Rabbi Rosh Ha'ayin

Rabbi David Bar Chen Chief Rabbi Shderot                             Rabbi Noaam I. Bar Tov Balfuria

Rabbi Moshe A. Broide Givataim                                            Rabbi Daniel Gabay Mevasert Tzion

Rabbi Jacob Gagulashvili Rabbi of the                                   Rabbi Abraham Giser Chief Rabbi Ofra

Rabbi Shalom Gold Jerusalem                                                Rabbi Gabriel Goldman Chief Rabbi Kfar Adumim

Rabbi Y. Gurari Chief Rabbi Cholon                                  Rabbi Menachem Gluchovsky Rechovot

Rabbi Zcharya Guri Chief Rabbi Avital, Ta'anach                     Rabbi Menachem Glitsenstein Chif Rabbi Maale Efraim

Rabbi Shimon Garelik Naharia

Rabbi Josef Gliksberg Member of the Israel Chief Rabbinical Council and Chief Rabbi Givataim

Rabbi Josef S. Gerlitzky Rabbi of Central Tel Aviv                 Rabbi Shabtay Zelikovitz Mevaseret Zion

Rabbi David H. Grinwald Chief Rabbi Nechalim                      Rabbi Yona Dovrat Chief Rabbi Mevo Choron

Rabbi Israel A. Gerhstenkorn Chief Rabbi Kiriat Malachi        Rabbi Mordechai Dovrovski Rishon Letzion

Rabbi David Dudkevits Chief Rabbi Yitzhar                             Rabbi David M. Drukman Chief Rabbi Kiriat Motzkin

Rabbi Simcha Doitch Bnei Brak                                              Rabbi Chaim Drukman "Or Etzion"

Rabbi Abraham Y. Dulgin Ramat Eshkol, Jerusalem               Rabbi Arie Dremer Ramat Gan

Rabbi Chananya Deri Chief Rabbi Jaffa                                   Rabbi Shlomo Damary Chief Rabbi Mateh Yehuda

Rabbi Jakob Derie B'dolach                                                    Rabbi Moshe Y. Waiss "Neve Achiezer", Bney Brak

Rabbi Josef Hecht Chief Rabbi Eilat                                        Rabbi Yeshayahu Hertzel Chief Rabbi Nazeret Eilit

Rabbi Micha Halevi Nachalat Yitzchak, Tel Aviv                      Rabbi Menachem M. Volpa Natanya

Rabbi Yisrael Hlperin Hertzelia                                               Rabbi Abraham M. Halperin Jerusalem

Rabbi Levi Yitchok Halperin Rabbinical Technology Institution

Rabbi Naftali S. Vaknin "Ben Gurion", Lod

Rabbi Josef Y. Volosov Chief Rabbi Ramat Yishay                 Rabbi Chaim N. Veisblum Haifa

Rabbi Shlomo Volpa Kiriat Gat                                                Rabbi Pinchas M. Zander Tel Aviv

Rabbi Tzion Vaitsman Chief Rabbi Kochav Ya'akov                 Rabbi Mordechai Chaziza Chief Rabbi Mevaseret Tzion

Rabbi David Vaknin Chief Rabbi Menachamia                          Rabbi Josef Zini Ashdod

Rabbi Michael Vaknin Chief Rabbi Yokneam                           Rabbi Josef Zilberfarb Haifa

Rabbi Menashe Vaknin Tiberias                                              Rabbi Abraham Chazan Neve Nof, Lod

Rabbi Yehuda Zilberstein Chief Rabbi Kiriat Tivon                   Rabbi Yehoshua Chevroni Naharia

Rabbi Asher Zamel Rabbi of Lev Hasharon                              Rabbi Natan Chay Itamar

& Bnei Zion

Rabbi Reuven Zarki Tel Aviv                                                   Rabbi Dov Chaminetzki Tel Aviv

Rabbi Abraham Chovalashvili Ashklon                                   Rabbi David Chanzin Petach Tikva

Rabbi Ahaliav Chayun Tel Aviv                                               Rabbi Josef Tolidano Chief Rabbi Givat Zev

Rabbi Natan Chai Itamar                                                         Rabbi Dov Teichman Tiberias

Rabbi Baruch Tolidano Chief Rabbi Tirat Hacarmel                 Rabbi Yehuda Yeruslavski Kiriat Malachi

Rabbi Josef C. Hacohen Trab Hertslia Pituach & Nof Yam      Rabbi Shimon Jacob Tel Chaim

Rabbi Jacob Josef Jerusalem                                                 Rabbi Shmuel Yniv Chief Rabbi Givat Shmuel

Rabbi Boruch Boaz Yurkovits Lod                                         Rabbi Shaul Israeli "Eretz Chemda" Jerusalem

Rabbi Ovadia Yabetz Chief Rabbi Kiriat Ekron                         Rabbi Benjamin Cohen Ramla

Rabbi David Yifrach Rabbi "Igud Hasfaradim"                         Rabbi David Chai Cohen Bat Yam

Rabbi Menashe Isachar Chief Rabbi Pduel                              Rabbi Eliyahu Cohen Chief Rabbi Beit She'an

Rabbi Asher Lemil Cohen Chief Rabbi Beitar Ilit                      Rabbi Yoram Cohen Be'er Sheva

Rabbi Benjamin Cohen Netivot                                                Rabbi Ben Zion Lipsker Chief Rabbi Arad

Rabbi Josef Cohen Ramla                                                       Rabbi Moshe Leventhal Chief Rabbi Beit Yatir

Rabbi Shmuel Cohen Ramat Gan                                            Rabbi Zecharya Karmi Chief Rabbi Shetulim

Rabbi She'ar Yashuv Cohen Member of the Israel Chief Rabbinical Council and Chief Rabbi Haifa

Rabbi Efraim Michaelshvili Ashkelon

Rabbi Moshe Katz Beit Shemesh                                             Rabbi David Lachiani Chief Rabbi Safsufa

Rabbi Itschak Levanon Be'er Sheva                                        Rabbi Shlomo Lipsh Kfar Acim

Rabbi Refael Halevi Levinson Tel Adashim                                Rabbi Shalom D. Lifshitz Ramat Gan

Rabbi Dov Lior Chief Rabbi Kfar Haroe,                                    Rabbi Ben Zion Michaelshvili "Givat Hazeitim" Lod Kiriat Arba, Hevron                                                                                   Rabbi Menachem M. Liberman Ashkelon

Rabbi Moshe L. Landa Chief Rabbi and Dayan, Bnei Brak

Rabbi Eliyahu Mali "Ateret Kohanim" Jerusalem                       Rabbi Eliezer Melamed Chief Rabbi Har Bracha

Rabbi Meir Mazuz Chief Justice of Israel's Supreme Rabbinical Court, Jerusalem

Rabbi Josef Kaplan Chief Rabbi Sitria

Rabbi Mordechai Mizrachi Ramat Yisrael, Tel Aviv                 Rabbi Shalom H. Machpuz "Kol Juda" - Rehovot

Rabbi Moshe Maimon Chief Rabbi Kiriat Ata                            Rabbi Nisim Malka Haifa

Rabbi Itzhak Malachi Tel Aviv                                                 Rabbi Shlomo Min Hahar "Bait Vagan" Jerusalem

Rabbi Yeshayahu Maitlis Naharia                                           Rabbi Meir Swisa Be'er Sheva

Rabbi Moshe Michalashvili Kiriat Malachi                               Rabbi Moshe Mordechai Rabbi Tirat Hakarmel

Rabbi Jacob Mendlson Ein Tamar, Neot Hakikar, Tamar          Rabbi Zev Dov Slonim Jerusalem

Rabbi David A. Mendelboim Bnei Brak                                   Rabbi Naftali Marinovski Chief Rabbi Lehavim

Rabbi Abraham Nachshon "Machon Hamikdash" Jerusalem Rabbi Ben Zion Amar Shvut Rachel

Rabbi Moshe Tzvi Neria Rabbi of Bnei Akiva Yeshivot            Rabbi Eliyahu Uziel Chief Rabbi Misgav Area

Rabbi David A. Spector Chief Rabbi Nokdim                           Rabbi Yehoshua Uliel Dimona

Rabbi Itzchak Azriel Kiriat Malachi                                          Rabbi Moshe Pinkovitz Cholon

Rabbi Ratzon Arusi Chief Rabbi Kiriat Ono and Member of the Israel Chief Rabbinical Council

Rabbi Yona Porat Revacha                                                      Rabbi Naftali Fiegenboim Tel Aviv

Rabbi Micha Peled Nativ Hashayara                                        Rabbi Yekutiel Farkash Jerusalem

Rabbi Yehuda Felix Elkana                                                     Rabbi Shneior Prosper Jerusalem

Rabbi Gidon Perel Chief Rabbi Alon Shvut                               Rabbi Shlomo Frank Akko

Rabbi Jacob Peretz "Midrash Sfaradi" Jerusalem                     Rabbi Shlomo Tsadok Jerusalem

Rabbi Josef Tsuberi Chief Rabbi of the Yemen Jews in Israel Rabbi Chain Tsanani Rosh Haain

Rabbi Iser Klonski Jerusalem

Rabbi Josef Kapach Chief Justice of Israel's Supreme Rabbinical Court, Jerusalem

Rabbi Benjamin Kuperman Ramat Gan                                   Rabbi Josef Karasik Chief Rabbi Arava Area

Rabbi Josef Katashvili Askelon                                              Rabbi Shlomo Rosefeld Chief Rabbi Beit Shean Area

Rabbi Moshe Klein Tsafaria                                                     Rabbi Aharon Keler Chief Rabbi Naharia

Rabbi Moshe Kleers "Emek Refaim" Jerusalem                       Rabbi Avshalom Katzir Chief Rabbi El - Al

Rabbi Avshalom Kil Gan Ner                                                   Rabbi Eliezer Knohl Chief Rabbi Kfar Etzion

Rabbi Igal Kaminetzki Chief Rabbi Gaza Area                         Rabbi Yechezkel Refaeli Naharia

Rabbi Shmuel Hacohen Kaplan Chief Rabbi Bat Galim, Haifa Rabbi Yhuda M. Stern Chief Rabbi Elkana

Rabbi Shlomo Katzin "Midrash Sfardi", Jerusalem                   Rabbi Yechiel Shimon Jerusalem

Rabbi Yehuda Kroizer Chief Rabbi Mitspeh Yericho                 Rabbi Shlomo Hacohen Riskin Chief Rabbi Efrat

Rabbi Aminadadv Krispin Chief Rabbi Kiriat Bialik                   Rabbi Eliyahu Cohen Rabin Kiriat Hyovel, Jerusalem

Rabbi Israel Rushetzki Chief Rabbi Mt. Hermon Area             Rabbi Shmuel Shnur Migdal Ha'emek

Rabbi Jacob Raitzes Chief Rabbi Yesod Hama'ala                   Rabbi Aharon Shapira Pardes Katz

Rabbi Yair Shachor Chief Rabbi Ma'ale Levona                        Rabbi David Turgeman Dimona

Rabbi Zevulun Shadmi Rabbi of East Tel Aviv                         Rabbi Natan Sharabi Rehovot

Rabbi Jacob Pinchas Shir Chief Rabbi Kfar Saba                    Rabbi Josef Sharabi Givat Mordechai Jerusalem

Rabbi Abraham Shlush Chief Rabbi Kfar Saba                         Rabbi David Shapira Beit Hakerem, Jerusalem

Rabbi Abraham Shapira Israel Chief Rabbi                              Rabbi Avinoam Taizi Chief Rabbi Talmey Yechiel

Rabbi Seadia Shalom Maatuf Chief Rabbi Bareket                  Rabbi Arie Se'adya Yavneh

Rabbi Avigdor Neventsal Chief Rabbi Jerusalem Old City       Rabbi Yishay Samuel Yonatan

Rabbi Moshe Hadaya Chief Rabbi Eilat                                    Rabbi Israel J. Hendel Migdal Ha'emek

Rabbi Shmuel E. Halperin "Bies Yisroel" Jerusalem                Rabbi Reuven Hiler Hod Hasharon