Rabbi Goren's Warnings on Oslo Accords Echo Today

Thirty-two years after the passing of Rabbi Shlomo Goren, a sharp letter he wrote during the Oslo Accords has resurfaced, revealing his dire warnings about Yasser Arafat, concessions regarding the Land of Israel, and the dangers he perceived in the agreements. The letter, penned in June 1994 to Professor Yosef Hochberg, a statistician at Tel Aviv University, was published in the book "Torat Ha'aretz" (The Torah of the Land), which compiles Rabbi Goren's views on the Land of Israel. Rabbi Goren, the former Chief Rabbi and Chief Rabbi of the IDF, expressed his strong opposition to the "illusory peace" with "the leader of the murderers," referring to Arafat. He cited biblical passages and rabbinic interpretations to argue that true peace with enemies was impossible and that Arafat's actions, including his infamous "Jihad speech" in Johannesburg, demonstrated a commitment to destroying Israel and the Jewish people, aligning with the PLO charter.

Rabbi Goren drew parallels between the Oslo Accords and the treaty between Prophet Muhammad and the Quraysh tribe, which he noted was ultimately broken by Muhammad. He criticized the Israeli government for abandoning the Zionist charter, empowering terrorist organizations, and engaging in a "double satanic game" with Arafat, who simultaneously pursued peace agreements while encouraging terrorism. Rabbi Goren also lamented the potential loss of Jerusalem, stating, "If you are willing to give up Jerusalem - so be it, we have sworn an eternal oath of allegiance to Jerusalem 'If I forget you, Jerusalem, may my right hand forget me.'"

Furthermore, Rabbi Goren argued from a halachic (Jewish law) perspective that there was no permission to cede parts of the Land of Israel, condemning rabbis who supported such concessions as misleading the public. He predicted that the "peace" pursued by the government would lead to destruction and the demise of Zionism, which he believed was intended for a Jewish state, not one shared with Palestinians who he claimed had no national rights in the land. He concluded by expressing his belief that his warnings would not be heeded by those who did not "see what is coming," referring to the perceived blindness of the government relying on a hostile Arab majority.

The article also touches upon contemporary issues, questioning the fate of election results amidst allegations of serious fraud, including foreign funding, citing remarks by Deputy Supreme Court President Noam Sohlberg. It highlights a perceived contradiction in Sohlberg's statements, acknowledging grave suspicions of foreign funding while asserting that even if proven, it would not invalidate the election process or its outcome.