                                                               
                       A Voice from Hebron
                      by Gary M. Cooperberg
                       December 31, 1996
              "Take thy son, thine only son. . ."

     Back in mid-November, when we were still on the edge of our seats waiting for a decision
to redeploy in Hebron, which was apparently imminent, I stated that the agreement to redeploy
would never be signed.  I stand by that assessment.  Again I seem to be alone in this opinion as
this time even the Arab side seems more optimistic than ever.  Dennis Ross is back shuttling
between the parties together with Martin Schmendrick.  The pressure is obviously high on both
parties, and both sides have declared their intentions and beliefs that the agreement will be signed
within a few days.  Yet, with all the optimism and "progress" and positive atmosphere, there are
still "minor" points of disagreement which need to be bridged before the agreement can be signed.
     Of course I cannot know exactly what those points are.  All of the information filtering out
seems to indicate that our prime minister has been backing down on all of his positions, yet, were
this really true, we would already have an agreement.  As I said before, I do think that Bibi wants
to finish this quickly.  I do believe that he is prepared to make far reaching and dangerous
compromises.  But, by the same token, I still believe that he has his own "red lines" which he will
not cross . . . I certainly hope so.  If he will only be strong enough to pick one such red line and
not budge from it, that might be enough to prevent this horror from coming about.
     Arafat is backing down on nothing.  He is making more and more demands as he feels that
he can get anything he wants from a government which has consistently backed down on every
principle it had when under pressure from the United States.  We can only hope that this time he
is wrong.
     If we look at this situation logically, as most of us are habitually programmed to do, the
likely outcome is only disaster.  As long as we keep negotiating with those whose sole aim is to
destroy us, we are assisting in plans for our own self destruction.  But there is one piece of the
puzzle which many of us do not include in our reasoning.  The Jewish State is not a political
creation subject to the changing ideology of its leaders; nor is it simply another country which can
be shaped by the might of its enemies.  Israel is the fulfillment of G-d's Promise to our Father,
Abraham.  It was an unconditional Promise which we have neither the right nor the ability to
annul.  It will come to fruition whether or not we wish it to; whether or not we actively participate
in its fulfillment; and even should we oppose it.   It is a G-dly process as recorded in many places
in the Bible.
     There will never be another exile of the Jewish People.  The redemption is well underway
in spite of those who choose not to believe their own eyes.  The crisis we now face with the
threatened agreement to our surrender of the holy City of Abraham toYassir Arafat was designed
on high to give our enemies false hope, to put genuine fear and despair in the hearts of those who
deny Jewish destiny, and to test the faith of those who profess to believe in G-d's Word.
     Our Father, Abraham, was the supreme example of a man of faith.  Because his faith was
so strong, G-d put him to the most difficult test of all.  He ordered him to take his only son, his
only hope for his future progeny, and slay him for a sacrifice to G-d.  As far as Abraham "knew"
G-d was rejecting him and dashing his hopes.  Yet, his unconditional love for G-d caused him to
accept this bitter command and execute it with the same love,  haste and obedience he would give
to any other Divine commandment.  He had no fore knowledge of the outcome of his actions.  He
only sought to obey the Will of his Creator.




     The days and months to come will be filled with woe and terror.  Once again we are being
called upon to stand up to an impossible situation and trust that G-d has good reason for bringing
this upon us.  We are being tested in Hebron because G-d loves us, just as he loved his friend,
Abraham.  We know that it is His Will that we return home to the Land of Israel.  We know that
it is His Will that we live in and rebuild the City of Abraham.  We also know that the forces of
Evil seek to thwart the entire process.  These forces have enlisted the help of our enemies, our
"friends" and even many of our own brothers.  
     Our Rabbis tell us that Abraham was called "Avraham haIvri".  "Ivri", translated as
Hebrew, comes from the Hebrew word "ever" meaning river bank.  From this our Rabbis tell us
that Abraham stood on one side of the river, and the entire world stood on the other side.  
     This is the heritage of the Jewish People.  If the entire world stands against us and tells us
that we are wrong to follow the Living G-d of Israel, we must be prepared to stand up against
everyone.  This is precisely where we stand today.  The Arabs are rewriting history and laying
claim to the Land G-d Promised to the Jewish People.  Many of our own people who have strayed
from Jewish roots, see merit in the claim of our enemies.  Those who stand with Biblical destiny
today are but a tiny minority of minorities.   Should we submit to the concept of "democracy",
there is no hope for us.  Indeed, should we submit a proposal before the nations of the world to
vote their opinion as to whether there should be a Jewish State, it is clear that they would vote us
out of existence.  
     Our leaders, therefore, are using the wrong instruments to run this country.  Were we to
have a leadership which would rule according to Biblical principles, rather than those devised by
Man, we would not be facing the crises which threaten us today.
     I know that our Prime Minister wants to make far reaching compromises.  I know that
Arafat wants to use our confusion against us to destroy us in stages.  I know that none of my
leaders has the slightest idea of the limitless power they can harness against our enemies should
they but act as Jews.  Yet, in spite of all of this, I also know that Jewish Destiny is well under way
and that no power on Earth can as much as slow it down.  Our foolishness will bring tragedy upon
our heads, G-d forbid, but we will never go backwards.
     So, rather than participate in the "death watch" by our radios, waiting for word of further
surrender, we must carry on with the knowledge that the future is with us, no matter what
agreements our leaders may try to make with our enemies.  We must continue to speak out in
defiance of national suicide.  And, those Jews in the United States and elsewhere who really want
to help; the very best thing you can do is to pack your bags and come home.  Now is the time to
demonstrate your faith in Jewish Destiny.