The Rav of Bat Ayin: "Terrorist Coming to Kill Jews Must Know that His Life Will End"

Rabbi Daniel Cohen, Rav of the Bat Ayin settlement where Shlomo Nativ HY"D was murdered, tells "Eretz Yisroel Shelanu" about the difficult emotions, the media's alienation, the stabilization of the settlement and the perpetuation of Shlomo's memory.

This month Bat Ayin is celebrating its twentieth anniversary.  We spoke with the Rav, Rabbi Daniel Cohen, after the cruel murder of Shlomo Nativ, HY"D, and the recent news that the terrorist was caught.  Rabbi Cohen spoke about the emotions at Bat Ayin since the murder, and the alienation of the media. 

What are the feelings now, after the terrorist was caught?

"It is one step in the right direction, but far from being satisfactory.  It is more than ridiculous that we have to be behind a fence because the army and the police don't know how to handle terror, instead of exhibiting power and strength. 

"Several steps must be taken in order that justice be done.  First of all, the terrorist's house should be bombed.  His village of Tzefa has a negative history.  Secondly, and quite obviously, the death sentence must be demanded for murder, especially of a youngster.  Texas is a democratic state in the United States.  In the past three years two hundred criminals have been executed.  In our case there is an entire population that covers up crime.  This is not a personal criminal act, rather a murderous culture; therefore it is necessary to provide a stiff punishment.  It must be clear to any future terrorist that if he comes to murder, he is doomed. 

What do you say to the media's incitement about the yishuv? 

"The media customarily presents pre-written stories about us.  Even in this sad story of a sickening murder, we are the bad guys.  We weren't allowed a few hours of peace and quiet; the incitement began immediately.  This is because the leftist journalists are trying to rationalize their hatred for us.

"They theorize that if the settlements would only disappear, the Arabs would stop hating us. This story makes everything cockeyed.  I don't know what drives them: wickedness or self hate (auto-anti-Semitism).  I would like to think that it is distorted thinking, and a desperate attempt to create a different reality than the one that exists.  They live in a fantasy world.

"When one goes far away form his Jewish roots, he is left with his own fantasies.  Sadly, those fantasies are getting more and more dangerous, since they are built on the assumption that we can stop the Arabs' animosity by weakening our hold on Eretz Yisroel, and more land cessions." 

How does the Rav strengthen the residents of the yishuv?

"We are strong, thank G-d, and believe in Hashem's grace. We have added more Torah classes and are disseminating the esoteric teachings of the Torah.  There have been suggestions to settle on the mountain opposite the yishuv.

We hope that our deep rooted relationships, our brotherhood, unity, mutual assistance and the cry from the depth our hearts to the veritable Heaven, will all help, and Hashem will send the Redemption imminently.

The Shlomo Nativ HY"D Memorial Fund has been established. We are commencing the writing of a Sefer Torah in his memory.  The public is welcome to take part.  For more information, please call the Nativ Family: 02-9932477.