Thread by @ariosher_

It’s not that Israel is committing occupation - we can’t - we’re native to the Land. By definition an occupier can’t be native.

The issue is our actions look like occupation. That’s the problem.

How do we formulate actions for the future that truly embody our historic mission?

Two statements can be simultaneously true:

1. Israel’s rebirth in our historic Homeland is the most important event in human history thus far.

2. The way we treat our closest neighbors (the Palestinians) is unjust.

The Children of Israel did not return Home to be viewed by any other nation, let alone billions of people globally, as a dark, ruthless oppressor.

We came Home to bring Light.

Light isn’t hi-tech companies.

It isn’t cool clubs in Tel Aviv.

It most definitely isn’t inventing the cherry tomato (though my favorite 😁).

Light is what our ancestors yearned for.

It’s what they died for.

In Israel, #YomHaShoah is being observed.

It is a somber remembrance of the dangers of Galut.

The reflection of a darker past.

But most importantly it’s a torch for the generations. Those that have come and those that have passed.

The embers of Auschwitz remain lit in the form of a blazing Flame - the Nation of Israel.

The memory of 6 million - their stories, their hopes - shining brighter than any evil the world has ever known.

What can we take away from this day, the 27 of Nisan every year, marking the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising?

Never Again. Sure.

But more so it’s that our collective strength is what brought us Home.

To the thousands of Hebrew youth who fought and died to create a Home, in our Land, so that those escaping Nazi terror could find safety.

And that those in the future may also return Home.

So that we can fulfill our generational oath.

A humble declaration uttered as we choked in the gas chambers. As we marched towards death.

Declared the world over:

שְׁמַע יִשְׂרָאֵל יְהוָה אֱלֹהֵינוּ יְהוָה אֶחָֽד

Through good and through bad, our faith unwavering.

Our commitment to the Torah and HaShem.

Guiding us through the nations.

Bringing us Home.

But we forgot what we asked for all those years.

For 2,000 years - what did we really want?

Was it just for safety?

We know though - because we still ask for it.

Every day.

Three times a day.

The Shemoneh Esreh tells us exactly what we lived and died for all those years in Exile.

It tells us what we still must become.

The Nation of Israel returned Home to usher in an age of peace, love, and prosperity to the world.

To guide us into a time where the trivialities of today will seem distant in the face of the fulfilling destiny we will live.

How can we do this?

First we must reconcile our borders.

All of Gaza, Judea, and Shomron, as well as the modern state of Jordan, are parts of our Homeland.

We must extend our sovereignty accordingly.

It is clear that the status-quo is not sustainable.

It looks bad for us and it’s causing millions to live poorly.

We must offer real peace.

To those that wish to leave, they should be allowed to do so.

To those that wish to stay, they should be offered legal residency and a path to citizenship.

They will live within the laws of Israel with self-administration that will set the new governmental standard globally.

To those that wish to fight, they will face the Hand of the God of Israel and His Army with all His Might.

To this there is only one end.

The Children of Israel came Home for a reason.

It’s time we show the world why.