Lebanon Ceasefire: What the Rebbe Said About It

This morning, Israel began a 60-day ceasefire with Hezbollah in Lebanon brokered under pressure from the United States. In 1982, Israel was in a similar situation and the Rebbe’s guiding words remind us of how great a mistake this is.

By Anash.org staff

This morning, Israel began a 60-day ceasefire with Hezbollah in Lebanon brokered under pressure from the United States.

Sadly, as we know from the Rebbe’s words and from past history, the Lebanon ceasefire deal is dangerous, will lead to more deaths, and will increase suffering on all sides. The area from which Israel is retreating is essential for ensuring the safety of its citizens. History has repeatedly shown that no nation—friend or foe—will endanger their troops to defend Israeli lives. By relinquishing this territory, it will become a springboard for further terrorist activity, even if Israel retains the right to respond militarily. Such a situation is untenable.

The Rebbe strongly warned against withdrawing defensive forces, emphasizing the directives of the Shulchan Aruch, Chapter 329: “In a city near the border, even if they come only to plunder straw or hay, we must take up arms, even if this entails desecrating the Shabbos.” Explaining that surrendering land, even under the guise of peace, inevitably leads to greater bloodshed and compromises security.

In 1982, Israel was in a similar situation and the Rebbe’s guiding words remind us of how great a mistake this is. During that time, Israel launched Operation ‘Peace for the Galilee,’ which as the Rebbe pointed out, “was to remove the terrorists from Lebanon once and for all, thus allowing Jews to live peacefully and securely. Yet, despite the results seen from previous submission to pressure, there are those willing to repeat this mistake and surrender the now terrorist-free area.” This reflects the tragic pattern of past conflicts, where miraculous military victories were undermined by political hesitancy and fear of international opinion.

The Rebbe criticized this “golus mentality,” a mindset that prioritizes the opinions of non-Jews over Jewish security and Torah directives. “Why are Jews willing to surrender these territories?” he asked. “They are possessed by fear of gentile reaction, the age-old fear of ‘what will the non-Jew say.’ A ‘golus mentality’ has become integrated into their very character; embedded within them is the belief that a Jew must always cringe and cower before non-Jews and always, always, take their opinion into account.”

The source of this fear, the Rebbe explained, is a loss of self-respect and Jewish identity. “When a Jew loses his own self-respect, when he no longer knows how a Jew thinks, speaks, or acts, he adopts non-Jewish attitudes. When a Jew no longer knows what it means to truly fear G‑d, he becomes subservient to the ‘strange god that is within you.’”

Reflecting on past conflicts, the Rebbe noted, “The entire operation could have been finished in a matter of days, especially with G‑d showing open miracles to the Jewish forces. But with their fear of gentile reaction, politicians called for a halt: First, we must consult with Washington. What does London say? Is France’s reaction favorable? Jewish soldiers are dying daily because of their procrastination, but more important in their eyes is: Does the world approve?!”

The Rebbe also underscored the need for decisive action: “Of course, the P.L.O. (the name of the terrorist organization then) wants to prolong the negotiations, to keep on setting ridiculous conditions for an ‘honorable’ withdrawal. Why not? Every day gained is a victory for them. But why is Israel allowing itself to be drawn into this futile game? We must get rid of these killers of our people before it is too late to do so.”

Using a powerful analogy, the Rebbe compared the situation to a patient on an operating table: “The terrorists are a danger to the three million Jews in Eretz Yisroel. They must be excised and rendered impotent. One operation was mounted. Politicians, weak creatures, fearful of their own insecurity, wanted to halt it in mid-term. When the army rightfully claimed they must finish the operation, a howl of protest went up. And the operation was halted. When the situation became intolerable, another operation had to be mounted—and the politicians interfered again.”

The Rebbe emphasized that success is assured when Israel acts with both physical strength and faith. “Success is assured when, together with the threat of physical weapons, the Jewish army goes into battle with its true strength—’We rely upon and invoke the Name of the L‑rd our G‑d.’ When we follow the directives of G‑d given in His holy Torah, in the Shulchan Aruch, we merit a full and lasting peace.”

Ultimately, the Rebbe’s message was clear: “Let us not repeat the errors of the past. A retreat will not lead to peace but to further conflict. When Israel defends itself according to Torah, it not only ensures its survival but also secures a future of true peace and redemption, when ‘nation will not raise sword against nation’ and ‘peace and tranquility will be in his days.'”

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Just a few short hours after the ceasefire went into effect, the IDF posted that they “identified a vehicle with several suspects in a zone prohibited for movement in Lebanese territory.” According to the ceasefire terms, “If Hezbollah violates the agreement… If it tries to rebuild terrorist infrastructure… if it brings in a truck carrying rockets, we will attack.” Nevertheless, the IDF troops merely “fired to prevent them from advancing” and didn’t attack the Hezbollah terrorists as they had promised.