"Whoever walks a distance of four cubits in Eretz Yisrael is assured of being a member of the World to Come."
This statement cited in the name of Rabbi Yochanan is based on the passage (Yishayahu 42:5) in which Hashem is described as forming Eretz (Yisrael) and "giving life to those who walk in it."
Our Sages saw such a powerful link between Eretz Yisrael and the World to Come that one of them even declared that resurrection of the dead will take place only in Eretz Yisrael, and the remains of those buried elsewhere will have to roll to Eretz Yisrael through tunnels created for them.
(Kesuvos 111a
The settlements are not located in "occupied territory." The last binding international legal instrument which divided the territory in the region of Israel, the West Bank, and Gaza was the League of Nations Mandate, which explicitly recognized the right of Jewish settlement in all territory allocated to the Jewish national home in the context of the British Mandate. These rights under the British Mandate were preserved by the successor organization to the League of Nations, the United Nations, under Article 49 of the UN Charter.
The West Bank and Gaza are disputed, not occupied, with both Israel and the Palestinians exercising legitimate historical claims. There was no Palestinian sovereignty in the West Bank and Gaza Strip prior to 1967. Jews have a deep historic and emotional attachment to the land and, as their legal claims are at least equal to those of Palestinians, it is natural for Jews to build homes in communities in these areas, just as Palestinians build in theirs.
The territory of the West Bank and Gaza Strip was captured by Israel in a defensive war, which is a legal means to acquire territory under international law. In fact, Israel's seizing the land in 1967 was the only legal acquisition of the territory this century: the Jordanian occupation of the West Bank from 1947 to 1967, by contrast, had been the result of an offensive war in 1948 and was never recognized by the international community, including the Arab states, with the exception of Great Britain and Pakistan.
SHARE IN THE LAND
Why does the Torah (Bereishis 33:19) bother to inform us that Yaakov purchased the plot of land in Shechem where he pitched his tent, and how much he paid for it?
This is to reveal to us the importance of Eretz Yisrael. A share in Eretz Yisrael is considered as valuable as a share in the World to Come.
(Rabbi Avraham Ibn Ezra, Commentary on the Torah)
STONES OF SUBSTANCE
When Rabbi Chanina Hagadol went from Babylon to Eretz Yisrael there were no signposts or border guards to indicate that he had reached his destination. But he had his own litmus test. He would pick up stones and feel their weight. As long as the stones were still too light he would cast them aside with a sense of disappointment that he had yet not reached his goal. When he finally picked up some stones of real substance he declared that these were "Eretz Yisrael stones," and he kissed them in fulfillment of King David's words (Tehillim 102:15) "Your servants hold dear her stones."
(Midrash Tanchuma, Parshas Shlach - quoted by Tosefos in Kesuvos 112a)
KISSING THE EARTH
"For Your servants hold dear her stones and cherish even her dust." (Tehillim 102:15)
The touching scene of Jews kissing the earth upon their arrival in Eretz Yisrael has its roots in the words of King David and in the actions of our Talmudic Sages. Rabbi Abba kissed the rocks at the port of Acco. Rabbi Chiya bar Gamda rolled in the dust of the land. Rabbi Chanina went even further by repairing the roads so that his beloved country would not have a bad reputation with those who traveled upon them.
(Kesuvos 112)
Arabs are willing to sell and Jews must take this opportunity to buy. Even if it falls outside the modern State of Israel.
There is an evil plan to divide the Holy Land
"For behold, in those days and at that time, When I bring back the captives of Judah and Jerusalem, I will also gather all nations, And bring them down to the Valley of Jehoshaphat; And I will enter into judgment with them there on account of My people, My heritage Israel, Whom they have scattered among the nations; They have also divided up My land." Joel 3:1-2
For $19.95 you can buy four cubits of the Holy Land in so called "occupied" territory in the West Bank"
It took extraordinary event sto compel Moshe to do what had to be done.
What will it take to comel us to do what needs to be done?
