Palestinian Sympathy Fatigue II

Well, well -- wail! News that the so nice - he be nom d'guerr'd twice! Abu Mazen/M'Moud Abbas -- the President of the West Bank and the rocket rich Strip turf (collectively called Palestine) is ready to jettison the escape pod and high tail it for his super swanky beach front villa in Q'Tar.

Saw that one a mile away. Just like the happy happy fact that HAMAS couldn't get re elected as grave diggers in the Strip now.

What a dang shame.

Both Satans' seem to look at the fast creation of a magical Nakbah free nation state of Palestine regardless of the Palestinians’ unwillingness to accept Little Satan's right to exist as the primary aim of their Palestinian policies.

Hip and haunch with calls for the establishment of a Palestinian state seem to actually increase in direct proportion to the radicalization of Palestinian society:

The more radical Palestinian society becomes, the hotter the hot wicked desire to grant it sovereign statehood.

Sovereign statehood and Palestinians have never really seemed to hook up. Like their Arab brethern, Palestinians have consistently sour mouthed that Little Satan's property posse that 'occupied' precious Palestinian turf with an amazing immodestly, lack of restraint and blitzkrieg tactics is the main problem.

Yet - predictably enough -- Palestinian Sympathy Fatigue may be the new (same as the old) thang:

"There is no romance, no sex, no excitement, no urgency — not even a sense of importance anymore."

Essentially because -- there is precious little in it for Great Satan. Would creating the world's 58th and 59th mohammedist or Arab League's 23rd and 24th nation state sweetly usher in a new error free era of peace, tolerance and get with it ness?

Would Little Satan be able to host Great Satan's Air Force or Teufel Hunden at state of the art bases, kassernes or cantonments? Would Palestine? And what would a future Palestine look like anyway? Yet another tribalistic kleptocracy or a really cool version of an Arabic Little Satan - complete with real elections, free press, consenual gov, indy judiciaries and egalitarian concerns?

"The way for the Palestinians to get a state is to go ahead and build it. If and when the institutions are there and functioning, from police and courts to a parliament, negotiations will reflect that fact.

"The argument that settling the borders and removing Little Satan's troops must come first is a path to failure. For one thing, Little Satan will not and should not leave until it is clear that the West Bank can be policed by Palestinians and that the region will not be a source of terrorism, as Gaza and South Lebanon became when Little Satan left there.

"No conference and no treaty can provide such a guarantee; only functioning Palestinian police forces that are already fighting and defeating terror can do so.

"It would press the Arab states to help real live Palestinians in the West Bank, rather than the imaginary Palestinians--all either bold jihadists or desperate widows and orphans--whom they see on Al Jazeera.

"In fact, except for occasional visits by Jordanians and Egyptians (who have peace treaties with Little Satan already), top Arab officials haven't a clue what's going on in the West Bank, for they've never been there. Not one head of state or government or foreign minister, not once.

"Organize a tour; take a few princes and foreign ministers to Ramallah, Jenin and Jericho where they would find that they are neither in Somalia nor some heroic battle scene against Zionist oppressors.

As Palestine's dual d'nom'd daddy says: "In West Bank we have a good reality… the people are living a normal life.”

Despite Goldstone Report, Willie P or rowdy rocketeers -- nearly everyone in free societies (except for maybe the MOST depraved Realist on the planet) is suffering from Palestinian Sympathy Fatigue.

Sweet!

Pic - "Don't wanna be accursed! Won't the last girl or the 1st to tell me i should go str8 2 Hale"

Can There Be Any Doubt About The YeSh"A Council?

8 Marheshwan 5770

This article from Israel National News (italics) is interspersed with my comments.

Barak Lauds Wallerstein on Mutiny
Gil Ronen, October 25, 2009

(IsraelNN.com) Defense Minister Ehud Barak reacted Sunday to the “Kotel mutiny” in which soldiers at a swearing-in ceremony protested the IDF's eviction policy, saying that he viewed it “very gravely.”

"However,” he added, “Yesh"a Council Director Pinchas Wallerstein's sharp reaction against the deed was in my eyes the right voice of the settlers in Yehudah (Judea) and Shomron (Samaria).”

One compliment from Ehud Barak says it all....

In an interview on Voice of Israel government radio, Wallerstein called the soldiers' action “unforgivable.”

Can there now be any doubt in anyone's minds where Wallerstein's priorities are? Can there be any doubt about his conflicts of interest? Can there be any doubt about his being a government collaborator?

The so-called YeSh"A Council is suppose to encourage the settlement of Yehudah and Shomron, not discourage it, and certainly not support any enterprise which discourages it or, worse, destroys it.

Because of such soldiers, some Jewish strongholds still stand. Why would Wallerstein want to put them down? If he secretly supports them, why would this want to bury the truth? The truth is that Pinhas Wallerstein cares first and foremost for Pinhas Wallerstein, second for Pinhas Wallerstein, and third for Ofra, the town in which he resides.

Rabbi Elyakim Levanon, Head of the Hesder Yeshiva at Elon Moreh and a member of the Judea and Samaria Council, voiced support Saturday for the soldiers and demanded that Wallerstein resign his post.

Rabbi Levanon is one of the rabbis who knows which takes precedence, Torah Law or man-made laws, and is not ashamed to express it. Barukh HaShem we have [real] rabbis like him.

"I call upon every soldier to reveal his views in public,” Levanon urged. “Clear value-oriented statements by soldiers are a clear sign of the general public feeling against the eviction of any Jews from their home.”

Encouraging freedom of speech? See how dangerous such truth-bearing rabbis are?

The Yesh"a Council is made up of local government chiefs in Yehudah and Shomron and claims to represent the Jewish population in those regions.

So true is the manner in which Gil Ronen phrases this last sentence. The YeSh"A Council is self-chartered, self-perpetuating, and self-serving. The rare, decent members, like Rabbi Levanon, stick around only in an attempt to facilitate positive change. Unfortunately, they spend most of their time doing damage control.

Cross-posted on Esser Agaroth.

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Don't forget to watch the documentary "Meraglim" (Spies) if you haven't already done so. This 40 minute video exposes the collaboration of the YeSh"A Council with the Israeli government during the Expulsion from Azza in the summer, 2005.

The Price Of "Arab" Olives

7 Marheshwan 5770

I have written about Jews getting pushed around over the masiq (olive harvest) so many times, I have decided to add an "Olive Harvest" label to Esser Agaroth.

Each fall, Jews are kicked out of their homes, have their movements restricted, separated from their families and jobs, for fear of interference in the Yishma'eli (Arab) harvest of olives on Land which is not even theirs.

Army Bans Land of Israel Activists From Home
Hillel Fendel 24 Tishrei 5770/12 October 09 04:41

(IsraelNN.com) In response to the abrupt announcement that three activists may not return to their homes in Samaria for six months, residents say leftists have taken over the army’s Central Command.

Early Monday morning, IDF Central District Commander Maj.-Gen. Gadi Shamni issued orders banning two prominent Land of Israel activists from returning to their homes, or anywhere in the Shomron (Samaria), for the next six months. The two are Ariel Gruner and Akiva HaCohen, both fathers of four children and residents of Yitzhar in the Shomron.

This is not the first time for either of them: In July 2006, Gruner - whose youngest son is now ten days old - was placed in prison for seven weeks under administrative detention orders generally employed against Arab terrorists. He was then placed under “caravan arrest” in a small Jordan Valley community for three months, followed by a three-month ban on entering Judea and Samaria. In August 2008, HaCohen was banned from the Shomron, where he lives, for four months.

A Third Expellee
Several hours later, Shamni issued similar orders against a third Yitzhar resident, Eliav Eliyahu, 19, who has been married for less than a year.

The official explanation for the latest orders: “Information has been received of their involvement in violent and illegal activity… and in light of the genuine danger foreseen from them to security and public order.” (Read more...)

"Information?" What the hell is THAT supposed to mean?! Where's the "evidence?" Oh, that's right they don't have any, and they don't need any.

MK Michael Ben-Ari (National Union) criticized what he called the “thought police,” and asked why it is that pro-Arab activists and anarchists in the Bil’in and Naalin protests “who throw rocks at soldiers” never receive such orders.

MK Ben-Ari, I believe have the answer to that. "They" (the Israeli Government) side with Yishme'el (Arabs) and Esau (The West/Christians), and have forsaken the Land of Israel, for they have no connection to it. "They" are Erev Rav.

"They" have no clue and no connection with the Torah, which clearly predicts...

דברים ו
י וְהָיָה כִּי יְבִיאֲךָ יְהוָה אֱלֹהֶיךָ, אֶל-הָאָרֶץ אֲשֶׁר נִשְׁבַּע לַאֲבֹתֶיךָ לְאַבְרָהָם לְיִצְחָק וּלְיַעֲקֹב--לָתֶת לָךְ: עָרִים גְּדֹלֹת וְטֹבֹת, אֲשֶׁר לֹא-בָנִיתָ. יא וּבָתִּים מְלֵאִים כָּל-טוּב, אֲשֶׁר לֹא-מִלֵּאתָ, וּבֹרֹת חֲצוּבִים אֲשֶׁר לֹא-חָצַבְתָּ, כְּרָמִים וְזֵיתִים אֲשֶׁר לֹא-נָטָעְתָּ; וְאָכַלְתָּ, וְשָׂבָעְתָּ.

Deuteronomy 6
10 And it shall be, when the LORD thy God shall bring thee into the land which He swore unto thy fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to give thee--great and goodly cities, which thou didst not build, 11 and houses full of all good things, which thou didst not fill, and cisterns hewn out, which thou didst not hew, vineyards and olive-trees, which thou didst not plant, and thou shalt eat and be satisfied--

No, we are prevented from fulfilling our destiny, not only to take full possession of the heart of our homeland, but also to reap its benefits.

After living in Binyamin and the Shomron, I can attest to the fact that 100 percent of the olives never get picked. Even if I approved of sharing with the Yishma'elim, which I most certainly do not, there are plenty of olives to go around.

Ideally, Jews would go into the groves in full force, harvest everything, and have an amazing stockpile of organic olive oil for food, medicinal purposes, cosmetics, and for export.

Instead Jews are removed from their homes, families, land, and jobs, while Yishma'elim are given free reign to harvest the olives on our Land, in contradiction to countless sources in Jewish Law.

Cross-posted on Esser Agaroth.

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Ariel at The Torah Revolution has this to say: Just Look At Him.

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It has been suggested that if you think there's something wrong here, then contact every Israeli politician you know, including Ehud Barak, Minister of Defense: (dover@mod.gov.il) fax: 011 972- 2-649-6545; Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu: memshala@it.pmo.gov.il, Fax: 011 972 -2- 563-2580; the Israeli Embassy in Washington: Tel: 202-364-5500; Deputy Chief of Mission: Dan Arbell, Fax: (202) 364-5560; Defense and Armed Forces Attaché Major General Benjamin Gantz Tel: (202) 364-5403 Fax: (202) 364-5503.

Jew Encouraging Ascension To The Temple Mount Incurs Intimidation From Police

23 of the Seventh Month/Isru Hag 5770

From Yosef Meir, Hoshana Rabba, 7:46 AM (edited)

Before dawn I was standing outside the entrance to the Kotel
(Western Wall) area calling upon the masses of Jews flowing into the are, to go up in purity to the Temple Mount. As I prepared to enter the security checkpoint to get into the Kotel to daven shachrit (pray the morning prayers), I was detained by the police for about 20 minutes and they only let me enter the Kotel plaza on condition that I not speak about the Temple Mount to anyone. They told me if I was caught speaking about Jewish ascent to the Mount I would be immediately arrested.

During the detention the police told me that if masses of Jews would be attempting to go up to the Temple Mount it would change the situation in our favor. The greater the pressure on police to open the Temple Mount to Jews, the greater the chance it will be open. Facts on the ground.

We must start a worldwide pressure campaign. We need serious activists from all over the world to come forward and help.

Let me know if you want to help and what area you are in.

Double standards on free speech, double standards on the Holiest site to the Jewish People, police intimidation... Still think Israel is a democracy?

It's a deMOCKracy.

Join the תפילת יהודית על הר הבית - עצומה- Jewish Prayer on Temple Mount Petition group on Facebook.

Cross-posted on Esser Agaroth.

Beware Of Governments Bearing Gifts: Israeli GPO To Begin Issuing Press Credentials To Bloggers

Erev Rosh HaShanah 5770

Tomer Devorah alerted me to the following:

Media Credentials for Top Israeli Bloggers

Erev Rosh HaShanah 5770/September 18, 2009, 10:49 AM

(IsraelNN.com) Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu's office will acknowledge the growing power of bloggers by providing writers of the most popular blogs with media credentials, according to Maariv. The credentials would allow the bloggers to enter news conferences and similar events.

The initiative was first revealed at the Second International Jewish Bloggers Convention this week by Ron Dermer of the Prime Minister's Office, who said it will take some time to implement the program. PMO officials will first spend months investigating various blogs and determining which of Israel's popular bloggers should be offered credentials.

Full story

As I understand it, this parashah was initiated by Jameel Rasheed @ The Muqata blog, when he made a public request for press credentials at the aforementioned convention:

"...Therefore, the logical question I asked was if the Israeli government wants our help to "Defend Israel" through the JBlogosphere (and we gladly help), why can't we get [Government Press Office] GPO Press Credentials? I was surprised that so many people applauded the question. Dermer promised he would take care of it. To help him with his promise -- if you are a serious blogger, drop me an email and I'll put together a request list to him....."

The way I see it, the key word in the above news report is "investigating." Call it K'far Tapu'ah Paranoia, if you must. I choose to call it necessary suspicion of the government.

I have no problem with Jameel's request. If he receives press credentials, then more power to him. However, I believe we must keep this policy in perspective.

The Erev Rav controlled, Israeli government is running scared. The ratio of Haredim in the Israeli population continues to increase, as is that of religious Jews, in general. The majority of second-graders who started school this year are religious. The percentage of officers in the IDF who identify as religious is the greatest it has ever been, and continues to increase each year.

Yet, every time the Torah world attempts to assert its influence, the Israeli Supreme Court immediately shoots it down.

The government knows that it's only a matter of time before they will no longer be able to keep up the resistance.

Eventually they will have no choice but to take increasingly drastic measures, in a futile attempt to prevent the inevitable.

The Erev Rav controls the mainstream Israeli media. The center-right Jerusalem Post is sometimes critical of the government, but does sufficient bashing of Haredim and settlers to keep it off its back.

The last thing the Israeli government needs is a set of independent critics with access to government officials. They know what we have in mind, and they don't like it one bit.

If granted access to press conferences and other assorted events, we will do the one thing of which the Israeli goverment is terrified.

We will be asking questions, and not just any questions, but the questions they don't want to be asked, let alone answer in public. We will be asking the questions to which they do not even know the answers, causing them great public embarrassment. We will be asking "them" to justify their actions. We will be putting "them" under the microscope, and adding the information we gather to our posts publicizing the truth to Jews outside of Israel, keeping them informed as to what is really taking place here.

There is no question that not just any blogger will be granted press credentials. Oh sure, there may be one token they will be able to brand as a nut job in an attempt to discredit other bloggers they do not like. But don't expect any great revelations in freedom for the press with this new policy. No, the powers that be will be using this as an opportunity to "investigate" us.

Fellow blogger Nati of Mystical Paths has already been "visited" by the Shabba"k (General Security Service AKA: "Secret Police") over his writings.

There was a time when I figured that the powers that be did not take English speaking blogs seriously. We're just a bunch of ideological nuts,...regardless of ideological flavor.

Well, there is no doubt that "they" know we're on the map. Whether "they" think we are a threat to them, only time will tell. What we do know is that instead of flying under the radar, the radar will, at least periodically, be focused on us.

Beware of governments bearing gifts.

Cross-posted on Esser Agaroth.

Bride Of Palestine

“Unfeeling, heartless creator! You had endowed me with perceptions and passions, and then cast me abroad, an object for the scorn and horror of mankind”

At the fateful glacier meeting betwixt Dr F and his handbuilt critter, commissions are engaged to create a helpmate for it. Later, Viktor recants - fearing that unsafe sex may in fact create “a race of devils . . . on the earth.”

Kinda like "Ye Olde Land For Peace" con that hath reared it's pointy little head yet again.

HRH Prince Turki Al Faisal of Wahabbi Arabia summons shades and specters with an interesting bit that pretty much says the heck with Palestine and Little Satan

"Saudi Arabia is the birthplace of Mohammedism the custodian of its two holy mosques, the world’s energy superpower and the de facto leader of the Arab and Muslim worlds — that is why our recognition is greatly prized by Little Satan. However, for all those same reasons, the kingdom holds itself to higher standards of justice and law.

"It must therefore refuse to engage Little Satan until she ends her illegal occupation of the West Bank, the Gaza Strip and the Golan Heights as well as Shabaa Farms in Lebanon.

"For Saudis to take steps toward diplomatic normalization before this land is returned to its rightful owners would undermine international law and turn a blind eye to immorality."

This is significant - and brazenly hollow. After all, Little Satan split the Strip way back in 2005. Where were the Kingdom's Higher Standards then? What tactical and strategic designs did this ME powerhouse exude then?

HRH Turki goes on to point out how awesome Land For Peace was betwixt Little Satan and Pyramidland yet only after Little Satan repented for siezing Egyptian turf in a series of desperate counter attacks in response to a secret attack by several Arab Leaguers against a democratic member of UN and promised to return every inch of sweetly acquired real estate booty.

Listing Gaza along with West Bank and the petite Shee Bah Farms (Har Dov in Little Satan speak) is suspect.

Land first -- then Peace.

YAWN

That faux school idea is sooo played.

Look -- since Nazi time Deutschland and Imperial Nippon screamed "God! Please! Stop!" over a 100 borders have been moved, dreamed up and established - and they didn't satisfy everybody -- yet -- an agreed upon border is way more better than generations of blood shed over turf.

Basing more polices RE: Palestine around mythic narratives of Little Satan's hedonistic appropriations for the Arab World's problems is retarded and are based on incorrect conclusions. So far, the redux'd land for peace has not only totally failed to resolve the problem - it has made it worse.

Everywhere Little Satan splits - intolerant (and currently Iranian fed and funded) rocket rich rejectionists tend to move in like HAMAS in the Strip and Hiz'B'Allah beyond Lebanon's 'Blue Line'.

High time to reassess, redress and stress that Little Satan ain't the problem.

Palestinian and Arab rejection of Little Satan's right to exist is.

Art "Bride of Palestine"

Mad Scientists

'The time has come,' the Walrus said, 'To talk of many things:"

In the crunk and disorderly world of academia -- the 'Cult of Irrelevance" -- there is a particular field called IR. Meaning Internat'l Relations, IR exists counterminously with real time - historical and current events sweetly mingle with future projections and the foreign policy theories theoretically theorized therein can actually drive one batty.

As in mad.

While decorum prohibits (think a thong at church) listing all the wicked, weak minded warping tomes, scrolls and syllabi that defeatist succubi and incubi imbibe -- here's one of several Mad Scientists to be on the lookout for.

Palestinian fanboy Columbia University professor Rashid Khalidi is a down right mean Little Satan hating agent.

Dr K routinely enjoyed sucking up to the old school Palestinian terror cats like the Palestine Loseration Organization at the same incredible instant PLO was doing anti-Western terrorism and earned an especial place on Great Satan's Official Enemies List.

Specifically -- rowdy revisionist Rashid doubled as director of the official PLO press agency WAFA in Beirut from 1976 to 1982

Despite Palestinian Sympathy Fatigue

"Although the Palestinians have no state, they have two toothless governments. The behavior of both sides has been disgraceful."

The real cause of all the world's ills are in fact Great and Little Satan's fault.

Such bass ackwardsness is risible in extremis

"It is high time that we speak out against the immoral and undemocratic policies of our government in the Middle East. U.S. policy in the Middle East will never be successful if it does not base itself on universally respected principles of international law and universally recognized values."


Dr Rashid Khaladi's work -- which is actually a study in Dual Loyalties -- to be on the look out for include:

British Policy towards Syria and Palestine, 1906-1914. Ithaca Press for St. Antony's College, 1980.

Palestine and the Gulf (Co-editor), Institute for Palestine Studies, 1982.
Under Siege: PLO Decision-making during the 1982 War. Columbia University Press, 1986.

The Origins of Arab Nationalism (Co-editor), Columbia University Press, 1991.

Palestinian Identity: The Construction of Modern National Consciousness, Columbia University Press, 1997.
Eugene L. Rogan & Avi Shlaim, ed (2007) [1st ed. 2001].

"The Palestinians and 1948: the underlying causes of failure".

The War for Palestine: Rewriting the History of 1948 (2nd ed.). Cambridge University Press. ISBN 9780521699341..

Resurrecting Empire: Western Footprints and America's Perilous Path in the Middle East, Beacon Press, 2004.

The Iron Cage: The Story of the Palestinian Struggle for Statehood. Beacon Press. 2006.

Sowing Crisis: The Cold War and American Dominance in the Middle East, Beacon Press, 2009.

Pic - "If there is to be a resolution of the Palestine problem, it depends on the Palestinians' understanding the massive disadvantages they labor under in fighting a struggle for liberation against the heirs of the victims of the Holocaust, in the growing shadow of worldwide mohammedismphobia."

BBC 4 Interview: Shira and Daniel Gil'ad, Ramath Migron

11 Ellul 5769

Tipped off by Rafi at Life In Israel, I feel this video is well-worth re-posting.

BBC Channel 4 News interviews newlyweds Shira and Daniel Gil'ad of Ramath Migron, north of Jerusalem. Shira and Daniel actually met on Ramath Migron, and have returned as a married couple to continued their important work.

Shira is a daughter of fellow blogger David Morris of Ramath Beth Shemesh, who brought this interview to our attention on his Tzedek-Tzedek blog.

Shira did all of the speaking, being the the native English speaker of the two. I thought that she came off very well.

As most of you know I am against PR/Hasbarah. (Who cares what the goyim think?!) That being said, I thought that the content of what Shirah said was clear and informative to those who don't have a clue as to the truth of what actually goes on in Israel. Shira was successful in conveying important messages, even in spite of the biased comments of the news reporter and anchor.

I especially like how it was mentioned that Shira was proud of her grandparents being decorated by the Queen for their charity work. However, when she was in England a few years ago, she felt as if something was missing, and that she belonged in Israel.

Cross-posted on Esser Agaroth.

Hello?! There Already Is A Ban On Land Sales To Arabs!

11 Ellul 5769

Rabbis Meeting to Consider a Ban on Selling Houses to Arabs
Gil Ronen, 10 Ellul 5769/August 30, 2009, 7:40 PM

(IsraelNN.com) Hareidi and national-religious rabbis will meet Monday in Jerusalem to discuss ways of dealing with the Arab influx into Jewish neighborhoods in northern Jerusalem, as well as the purchasing of agricultural land in the Galilee by wealthy foreign Arabs.

The rabbis are expected to call for an end to the phenomenon of sale of land and houses by Jews to Arabs. The organizer, Aryeh King, who heads the Israel Lands Fund, told Arutz Sheva's Hebrew service that he is hoping to see the rabbis issue a pronouncement that sale of land and houses to Arabs is forbidden....

This is awfully frustrating, as we already have such a law (see sources below). It is a shame such a meeting even needs to take place.

However, since Rabbi Ya'aqov Yosef and Rabbi Shmu'el Eliyahu, legitimate halachic authorities, are said to be involved, I have confidence that this meeting will be used as a some sort of strategy to publicize the 3,300 year old halacha mid'Oraitha.

Unfortunately, I must offer the prediction that this will be on the first stage in the next set of battles between Torah and anti-Torah Israeli laws. The Israeli Supreme Court will undoubtedly decry "racism."

In recent years, we have already seen the Israeli Supreme Court order the Chief Rabbinate around with regard to kashruth (dietary laws) certification. We have also seen prominent rabbis, such as Rabbi Yisrael Ariel, arrested for daring to discuss halachoth (Jewish laws) which appear to be in contradiction of Israeli law.

Stay tuned...

רמב"ם הלכות עבודה זרה פרק י
ד [ג] אין מוכרין להם בתים ושדות, בארץ ישראל; ובסוריה, מוכרין להם בתים, אבל לא שדות. ומשכירין להם בתים בארץ ישראל, ובלבד שלא יעשם שכונה--ואין שכונה, פחותה משלושה. ואין משכירין להם שדות; ובסוריה, משכירין להם שדות. ומפני מה החמירו בשדה: מפני שיש בה שתיים--מפקיעה מן המעשרות, ונותן להם חניה בקרקע

Ramba"m: Laws of Foreign Worship 10
4 [3] One does not sell them houses or fields in Eretz Yisrael; but in Suriyah one may sell them houses, but not fields. One may rent them houses in Eretz Yisrael, provided that one does not make them a neighborhood -- and there is no neighborhood with less than three [households]. One does not rent them fields; but in Suriyah one rents them fields. And why were they strict regarding fields? For two reasons -- [because they would] expropriate the tithes and be allowed to settle the land.

The negative commandments "do not make a covenant with foreign worshipers" and "do not have mercy on them" come directly from Deuteronomy.

דברים ז,ב ונתנם יהוה אלהיך, לפניך--והכיתם: החרם תחרים אתם, לא-תכרת להם ברית ולא תחנם

Deuteronomy 7:2 and when the LORD thy God shall deliver them up before thee, and thou shalt smite them; then thou shalt utterly destroy them; thou shalt make no covenant with them, nor show mercy unto them.

For additional information on these negative commandments, you can download the shi'urim (audio) given by Rabbi David Bar-Hayim, part 1 and part 2.




Cross-posted on Esser Agaroth.