Parshat Bechukotai opens with the statement that if we follow God’s commandments then we will dwell securely in the Land of Israel and God will give us peace in the land. God will banish evil beasts, no sword will pass through, we will pursue our enemies and they will fall by the sword. God will establish a covenant with us.

However, if we don’t follow the mitzvoth then we will be breaking the covenant. Terror will be imposed upon us and we will be defeated before our enemies. Our enemies will rule over us and we will have to flee even if nobody is pursuing us.

In President Obama’s speech yesterday the concept of “dwelling securely” was mentioned but in a different context:

“While the core issues of the conflict must be negotiated, the basis of these negotiations is clear: a viable Palestine, a secure Israel,” the president declared, “We believe the borders of Israel and Palestine should be based on the 1967 lines with mutually agreed swaps, so that secure and recognized borders are established for both states.”

Obama added, “The dream of a Jewish and democratic state cannot be fulfilled with permanent occupation.”

Referring to Obama’s statement about Israel as the nation state of the Jewish people, the Prime Minister’s office said the Palestinians and not only the US need to recognize that as a fact.

Netanyahu also said that he will make clear in his meeting that Israel will need to remain on the Jordan River.

The Torah does not have a concept of a two state solution. In Vayikra 26:32 the Torah states that if we break the covenant and don’t deserve to stay in the Land of Israel and if the Jewish people are exiled then God will make the land desolate and nobody (from any nation) will be able to live there.

We learn from Sifra Bechukotai that when Sancheriv attempted to resettle the northern kingdom after exiling its inhabitants they were ravaged by lions.

On the words “No sword shall pass through your land” (Vayikra 26:6), Rashi states: Not only will they not come to war upon you, but they will not even pass through your land from province to province in order to make war elsewhere.

In the Torah we have the concept of “Ger Toshav”, “Resident Alien”. If a person who is not Jewish would like to reside in the Land of Israel they are permitted to according to the following conditions: They must not worship idols and they must observe the Seven Noachide Laws.

The fact that non Jews can reside in the land does not mean that we are allowed to divide up the Land of Israel. The division of the State of Israel may be Obama’s dream, but it certainly in not the dream of the Jewish people throughout the ages.

Let’s hope and pray that we will have true peace in the entire State of Israel and throughout the world.