Chief Rabbi David Yosef Declares Gaza and West Bank Territories as Part of Israel
Translated & summarized from Arutz Sheva by baba
Chief Rabbi David Yosef visited the Gush Katif Museum to mark 21 years since synagogue burnings and declared Gaza and West Bank areas as inherently Jewish land. He emphasized prayer for return, criticized the disengagement, and expressed hope for future restoration of Jewish sites in these territories.
The story in 6 lines · by baba
- Chief Rabbi David Yosef affirms Gaza and West Bank territories as part of Israel.
- He calls for daily prayer for the redemption and return to these lands.
- Rabbi Yosef condemns the desecration of synagogues post-disengagement.
- He criticizes those who supported disengagement without religious basis.
- Rabbi Yosef stresses patience and hopes for future restoration of holy sites.
- He denounces the Palestinian national identity as illegitimate and calls for divine intervention.
Chief Rabbi David Yosef, Israel's Sephardic Chief Rabbi and First to Zion, visited the Gush Katif Museum in Jerusalem on Thursday to mark 21 years since the burning of synagogues in Gush Katif. During the visit, he addressed the possibility of returning to Gaza, the disengagement plan, the Palestinian issue, and the religious significance of the connection to the Land of Israel. The tour was led by museum chairman Shlomo Vesertil, Shay Gefen, and author Oded Mizrahi, with attendees including Rabbi Lior Cohen, businessman Zvi Amar, and students from a religious school in Zichron Yaakov.
When asked about praying for a return to Gaza, Rabbi Yosef affirmed the importance of prayer but differentiated it from taking action. He emphasized that the prayer extends beyond Gush Katif to all of Gaza, Judea and Samaria, Shechem, and Jenin, stating, "Gaza is Israel, Gaza is ours, Shechem is ours, Jenin is ours, all of it is ours." He called for daily prayer with strong intent for the redemption that would restore all of Israel to the Jewish people.
Rabbi Yosef lamented the desecration of synagogues left in Gush Katif after the disengagement and expressed a harsh wish for divine destruction of Gaza until the Jewish people can return. However, he stressed patience, saying the redemption will come with strength against those he described as falsely calling themselves the Palestinian people, asserting they have no rights to the land.
He also spoke about the desire for peace and the consequences of the disengagement, noting that despite efforts to extend a hand for peace, the results were violent. He characterized the opposing side as committed to violence and called for divine intervention to end global antisemitism that blinds the world to these realities.
Rabbi Yosef drew a political and religious lesson from the disengagement, criticizing those on the right who supported it despite lacking genuine religious adherence. He stressed that those truly committed to Jewish law and tradition cannot change their stance on the land.
Concluding, he praised those preserving the memory of Gush Katif and continuing Torah study, expressing hope that soon synagogues, mikvahs, and other holy sites in Gaza and surrounding areas will be restored to Jewish control. He reiterated, "These places all belong to the people of Israel," acknowledging current limitations but affirming the enduring claim to the land.
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