The Temple Mount And Rachel's Tomb

(Photo: Destruction on Temple Mount)

Israel's political Opposition is faced with a fateful decision -- and it seems that it does not understand the magnitude of the challenge at its doorstep. In the face of Olmert's plans to abandon Jerusalem, the Opposition can choose between two plans of action:

The first option is the accepted, pragmatic, political norm. After all the speeches, explanations and lip service to the voters, the most effective route for the Opposition is to enter into secret negotiations with Olmert to minimize the damage of his plan and to join the government to ensure that no greater damage is done. This is exactly the option that Netanyahu has chosen in the face of every fateful decision. When faced with Oslo and Arafat, with Wye and Hebron, with terrorist release and armament and of course, with the destruction of Gush Katif, he feebly protested but ultimately lent his practical and moral support to every outrage. All signs point to the fact that this is exactly what Netanyahu plans to do in the face of the surrender of Jerusalem to our enemies.

But there is a second, much more effective option that the Likud can and should adopt: Not to lend any legitimacy whatsoever to negotiations on the status of Jerusalem. The Likud must announce that any future Likud--led government would in no manner be committed to agreements on Jerusalem and would not compromise Israel's complete sovereignty over the entire city.

Last week, Manhigut Yehudit sent Binyamin Netanyahu the following letter:

To Knesset Member Binyamin Netanyahu
Chairman of the Likud

Shalom,

Am Yisrael has been following Israel's negotiations on the heart of the Jewish nation -- the division of Jerusalem, with trepidation. In the past, we have seen how these types of agreements have become painful and destructive reality for the State of Israel -- despite the strong opposition to them. But this is not just another agreement or an additional surrender. Jerusalem is the foundation of our existence. Jews throughout the generations have always vowed: "If I forget thee, O' Jerusalem, may my right hand forget its cunning." Any compromise on the status of Jerusalem is a mortal blow to the Jewish foundation of the State of Israel, just as annulment of elections would be a mortal blow to the democratic foundation of the State of Israel.

A very heavy responsibility now weighs on the shoulders of the Likud as the leading movement of the national camp, and on your shoulders, as Chairman of the Likud and head of the Opposition. Mr. Olmert is capable of bulldozing any agreement through the Knesset with bribery and deception, just as Rabin did with the Oslo Accords. It is in our power, though, to negate the legitimacy of an agreement before it is even signed.

My expectation and request of you as Chairman of the Likud and Chairman of the Opposition, is that you will announce in no uncertain terms that the Likud views the negotiations on Jerusalem as an illegitimate act and that future governments led by the Likud will not honor the decisions that will be made in these negotiations.

This announcement, together with a public campaign conducted by the Likud under your leadership, is a powerful tool to prevent continued negotiations. It will render the negotiations meaningless, with support for Israel's government and prime minister dropping to single digits.

Jerusalem unites the entire Jewish public in the State of Israel. I have no doubt that the leaders of the nationalist parties and even some of the Kadimah MKs will join this struggle, which literally interfaces with the very essence of our existence. I believe that if we set our differences aside and focus together on the struggle to save Jerusalem, we will succeed in saving our holy city and will also assure that the Likud is elected to head Israel's next government.

With Blessings,

Moshe Feiglin

What Are We Doing to Save Jerusalem?

As of this writing, we have not received an answer from Netanyahu. But that does not absolve us of responsibility. Manhigut Yehudit is working hard to convene the Likud Central Committee so that it will adopt a decision negating the legitimacy of negotiations on Jerusalem. The decision will also clarify that the Likud will not honor agreements to surrender any part of Jerusalem. This decision will unite the ranks of the Opposition, prevent additional Lieberman-type betrayals and will take the wind out of the sails of the negotiations to surrender the city.

We are working on uniting the ideological factions in the Likud and collecting the 600 signatures needed to convene the Central Committee and adopt this decision.

Has Anybody Seen Rachel's Tomb?

Rachel is the quintessential Jewish matriarch. She represents the Shechinah (G-d's Divine Presence) and the eternal connection between the Nation of Israel and the Land of Israel. Traditionally, Jews throughout the generations have poured out their hearts in prayer and tears at Rachel's Tomb in Beit Lechem, always feeling that they have come home to their mother. All of the above explains why Israel's governments have done their utmost to rid themselves of this holy Jewish site. When they didn't manage to hand it over outright to the Arabs, they opted for the next best plan: To "disengage" from Rachel's Tomb -- to literally strangle it, to bury it in a maze of concrete "protective" barriers, to add the requirement that Jews travel to the holy site in bullet-proof vehicles only and then only with the escort of an armed soldier. All of this when Rachel's Tomb is just a ten minute's stroll from Jerusalem's Giloh neighborhood. The result is that access to Rachel's Tomb is difficult, at best, and often -- impossible. Rachel's Tomb before the concrete walls. Rachel's Tomb after the concrete walls. (Photos courtesy of Israel National News.com) This Tuesday, the 11th of Cheshvan (Oct. 24) will be the anniversary of Rachel's death. Traditionally, tens of thousands of Jews would stream to her tomb to pray. Since the concrete barriers have been constructed, tens of thousands of Jews still attempt to reach her tomb on this day, with varied degrees of success. The problem is not only the concrete walls that surround the Tomb. The problem is the concrete walls that surround the hearts of Israel's leaders. May the prayers of all those who reach Rachel's Tomb be answered and may we merit a new, authentically Jewish government in Israel soon!

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