Pullout objectors should hold mourning ceremony and leave Gush Katif, Rosen says
Photo: Yaron Brenner
Surrender and leave Gaza
Settlers should fold up orange flags, detach themselves from those responsible for pullout
I write these lines with a bleeding heart, with a feeling of ‘Damned if I do and damned if I don’t.’ I am writing following another “uplifting” night along the fences of Kfar Maimon with the intent of helping my beloved Gush Katif residents.
I call on all those who can support the anti-pullout effort to make their way to the Gaza Strip settlements, join our brothers who are slated for evacuation and exile and try to prevent the disgrace.
With that said, I also call on the settlers to consider surrendering – folding up the orange flag, replacing it with a black one to be flown at half mass, and wave white (not blue-white) flags – and then go to exile.
I do not know how people go to exile; we did not study this in the Land of Israel’s Midrash (Talmudic legend based on a biblical verse). If, God forbid, we are forced to surrender, we will not do so for lack of spirit, but out of the belief that truth and love will eventually prevail. We have used up all of our ammunition, and all that is left is our belief in God’s eternal strength: Shall we indeed accept good from God and not accept adversity?" (Job 2,10).
Disengagement
By Yisrael Rosen
Whoever isn’t familiar with the saying “personal democracy” is invited to read the newspapers or surf the web. Whoever doesn’t recognize the saying “democracy is me”, should just go listen or watch the news media
I call for surrender on the evening following the Ninth of Av (day of mourning) fast (August 14, 2005). I call on the settler leaders in Gaza to ask that all Israelis gather in Gush Katif, hold a mass mourning ceremony and proceed to march toward exile – turn off the light in Gaza, and turn on the light in our hearts.
Similar ceremonies should be held throughout the entire country - in front of the cameras.
Hara-kiri images
I have another dramatic proposal: If I were on the verge of being exiled, I would destroy my home with my own two hands (with the assistance of a demolition contractor of course) to express the cry of destruction.
Such a horrific display would compliment the act of surrender. Should the physical destruction be carried out by “settler thugs,” the Israeli government may be exempt from clearing the rubble. On second thought, perhaps this is reason enough not to destroy the homes in a partisan manner – let them pay! Let them deal with the complications!
I believe the aforementioned proposal would be advantageous in battling future expulsion plans, more so than physical violence and force. The hara-kiri images of Jewish self-removal and photos of the scorched land left behind by the deserters would penetrate the hearts of all those who still maintain a shred national awareness.
‘Democracy will blow up in their face’
What next? I call on all those hurt by the expulsion and their supporters to socially detach themselves from those responsible for this own goal, namely the politicians, left-wing activists and those belonging to the academic, judicial and media elites.
These people are well aware of how they have betrayed their democratic beliefs for this incomprehensible act, which has never been fully explained.
I call to put an end to the “social discourse” between right and left-wing activists and between religious and secular Jews, at least until a cry of regret is heard regarding the “decision-making process” and the distortion of democracy to serve Prime Minister Ariel Sharon’s whim.
We were not defeated by enemy soldiers or “shahids,” but by our own people, those who believe in the “democratic religion” and were willing to betray their religion to eradicate the vision of those who were clinging to the land of Israel.
I have always contended that a military putsch could not take place in democratic Israel, as “the people would not allow it;” but today I am certain such a scenario is indeed possible.
Democracy will blow up in their face, and the disengagement will also blow up in their face after it is proven that it had achieved nothing.
Rabbi Yisrael Rosen, a rabbi of the settler movement, and head of the Tzomet Institute in Alon Shvut.
