JERUSALEM, Israel, Sept. 5th–The Oslo peace process had “more failures than advantages,” French Ambassador to Israel Christophe Bigot told a delegation of pro-Land of Israel rabbis during a meeting at the French Embassy in Tel Aviv on Wednesday.

Bigot also joked that the embassy might be moved to Jerusalem, saying that while the space that housed the embassy had its drawbacks, it was only a  “temporary residence because” –switching to Hebrew– “Leshana Haba’ah Biyerusholayim” (next year in Jerusalem).

The statements are not typical of a representative of a European country which views advocates the creation of a Palestinian state or the “land for peace” formula behind the Oslo Accords and the so-called “peace process” which followed them.

France also believes, like the United States, that the status of Jerusalem should be determined in final status negotiations between Israel and the Palestinian Authority.

By the time this article was published, Bigot could not be reached for a response, but his comments were confirmed by two members of the delegation who met with Bigot and with whom the Jewish Press spoke separately.

The delegation visiting Bigot represented the Rabbinical Congress for Peace, a group which says it represents 350 leading Israeli rabbis who oppose ceding any kind of territory. They met with Bigot in order to urge France to oppose the creation of a Palestinian state and to ask that France stop European Union funding of anti-Israel groups which operate in Israel.

“These groups operate under the guise of peace and human rights but the money that the EU gives them is used for incitement against Israel, against co-existence and leads to bloodshed,” Rabbi Shlomo Rosenfeld, Rabbi of Shadmot said.

In response to Bigot’s comment about the Oslo process, Rabbi Joseph Gerlitzky, the organization’s Chairman told the Ambassador, “let’s be precise – it was failures without any advantages.”

Rabbi Gerlitzky is the Rabbi of Central Tel Aviv.

Rabbi Avrohom S. Lewin, the organization’s director, told Bigot that “the past 40 years have proven that the ‘land for peace’ formula is a failure and only leads to bloodshed and instability in the region.”

The delegation presented Bigot with a “p’sak din” – a juridical ruling in Jewish law – holding that it was forbidden to cede territory from Israeli control because it would endanger people’s lives.

The ruling has been signed by the 350 rabbis who are said to support the Rabbinical Congress for Peace.

Speaking over the phone with the Jewish Press, Rabbi Lewin said that the ruling was drafted in 1993, marking the beginning of the Rabbinical Congress for Peace.

“What’s unique about the ruling,” Rabbi Lewin said, “is that this ruling is not based on kedushat ha’aretz (the holiness of the land) but pikuach nefesh (saving lives).”

During the conversation Bigot also noted that while French citizens view Israelis as “occupiers who are against Palestinian aspirations” they should not be blamed as “that is exactly how Israelis portrayed in its own paper, Ha’aretz.”

Rabbi Lewin said he believed Bigot was implying that Ha’aretz’s left-wing reporting played a role in the distorted European view of the Israeli-Arab conflict.

While Bigot offered counter arguments on many issues raised by the delegation, he said he would convey their requests as well as the ruling to the French government.

In a last-ditch effort to prevent the demolition of the Ulpana neighborhood in Bet El, The Rabbinical Congress for Peace (RCP) sent an urgent message to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu asking him not to do it. The rabbis quoted the Talmudic adage that the beginning of a downfall is flight and warned that such a move will have a domino effect and will weaken Israel’s security.

“Dealing with registration of ownership and legal debates over Israeli land is dangerous and superfluous. What is actually happening is an attempt by Israel’s enemies with the help of leftist elements to force Israel to withdraw from Judea and Samaria and any minor concession only encourages them to continue with their plot. This can ultimately happen in Jaffa and Haifa just the same,” the rabbis wrote to PM Netanyahu.

The rabbis alluded to the Halacha in Shulchan Oruch 329 that when dealing with a border town it is forbidden to enter any negotiations of withdrawal. It makes no difference whether it’s one house or an entire neighborhood. Any concession and negotiation only inspires and emboldens Israel’s enemies and leads to violence and instability. The Prime Minister must state in no uncertain terms that this neighborhood is vital for Israel’s security and to remove the issue from the agenda. Instead he should expand and continue building more homes there, the RCP wrote.

The rabbis also cited the words of Nobel laureate Professor Israel Aumann who said that that evicting the families “would endanger not only the Jewish presence in Judea and Samaria but also all of Israel.” He said it is a “humanitarian and moral issue to keep the families in their homes. This [expulsion] endangers all of us even if the danger does not occur in our generation. The expulsion will influence our grandchildren,” he said.

The message sent to PM Netanyahu in the name of 350 rabbis of the organization was signed by Rabbi Joseph Gerlitzky, Chairman, Rabbi Moshe Havlin, Vice-Chairman and Rabbi Avrohom S. Lewin, Director.

For more information call Rabbi Lewin: 0508-563-992

A senior delegation of the Rabbinical Congress for Peace (RCP) met on Tuesday with Ambassador Andrew Standley, the Head of the European Union in Israel to present the Torah view on the issue of giving up land to the Arabs.

The rabbis made it clear that the majority of rabbis in Israel and abroad are of the opinion that is absolutely forbidden to give up an inch of land to the Arabs based on the clear Halacha in the Jewish Code of Law Chapter 329, that the sanctity of life overrides all other considerations and giving up land has proven more than once that it leads to violence, bloodshed and instability. “As rabbis we are committed to peace and promote peace, but a true and lasting peace not one that will blow up in our faces before the ink often agreement has a chance to dry,” they told the ambassador.

Rabbi Joseph Gerlitzky, the rabbi of Central Tel Aviv and Chairman of the RCP said that although Jews are obligated to observe the Torah precepts even if we don’t understand their meaning, the above ruling is understood by everyone. Even a young child understands that retreating from land leads to terrorism, bloodshed and missiles.

Rabbi Avrohom Shmuel Lewin, Director-General of the RCP, asked the ambassador how long the EU would continue in this exercise in futility of supporting a “territory for peace” formula, which has proven time and time again that it is really “territory for terror.”

“The EU is urging Israel to withdraw to the 1967 borders. We did that in Gaza and what did we get? 10,000 missiles. Do you want that to happen in Judea and Samaria too?” Rabbi Lewin asked.

Rabbi Moshe Havlin, Chief Rabbi of Kiryat Gat and Sderot related how his own life and the lives of his family members, children, and grandchildren have been disrupted, and how they live in constant fear of being attacked by missiles from Gaza.

Rabbi Shlomo Rosenfeld, the Rabbi of Shadmot Mehula in the Jordan Valley emphasized that it is precisely the organization  that represents the European countries (the EU) where the Holocaust took place that must feel the responsibility for a secure Israel. “What is happening today in Israel is an extension of the Holocaust. The Jewish people are again being made a scapegoat for the lack of world peace while the Palestinian terrorists and murderers are depicted as innocent peace seekers. I want to state in no uncertain terms that the EU’s one sided support of the Palestinian demands is an extension of the Holocaust,” he said.

Rabbi Abraham Shreiber, the rabbi of the fomer Kfar Darom in Gush Katif related that before the disengagement from Gaza local Gaza residents and their Jewish neighbors lived in peace and harmony. The vegetables and crops grown in Gush Katif were the best in the country and the Arabs learned how grow them too. “We still get calls today from many former Arab neighbors complaining that situation has become much worse for the Arabs themselves as a result of the disengagement. They are pleading with us to come back,” he said.

Rabbi Jacob Shapiro, the dean of Yeshivat Mercaz Harav in Jerusalem, disclosed that the night that terrorists attacked the yeshiva several years ago, killing eight students, he received an anonymous call from a caller who told him: “we attacked you because you believe in the Bible that says that Israel belongs to the Jews.” “Our Bible is not only a history of the past but a blueprint for the future,” Rabbi Shapiro told Mr. Standley.

Ambassador Standley listened attentively to the rabbis and thanked them for coming to present the Torah view. He said that it is hard to argue with the rabbis since they live in Israel and feel the heat on a daily basis while he is only here for a few years and then will move on to another country. However, the ambassador said that he understands that the Jewish people are bound by the Torah, which is eternal, but he and the EU is bound by international law which has not yet accepted laws of the Torah. He added that he is always open and ready to listen to diverse views and will bring the RCP’s message to those that guide policy at the EU.