I was wondering the other day why there are almost no halachot available on the internet about the Modern State of Israel, or the Israel-Palestinian conflict.
Is this discussed by the modern poskim?
For example, I would like to know if it’s permissible to support a two-state solution, as well as many other questions?
I’m sorry that my question is sort of vague, but the only thing I could find in any way related was R Ovadia’s shita that it was muttar to give back land in favour of peace, but very little if anything else!
Answer:
This is a somewhat complicated question.
General discussions concering questions of state and society, such as questions of Torah law in a modern society, questions of the Torah approach to an army in a modern world, and political questions such as giving back land for peace, have been approached by certain halachic authorities, mainly those affiliated with the Religious-Zionist faction. Thus Rav Neriah, Rav Yitzchak Isaac Hertzog, Rav Shlomo Goren, Rav David Halevi, Rav Shaul Yisraeli, and more contemporary rabbis, have delved into such topics, and written extensively on them.
On the other hand, Prof. Yeshayahu Leibovitz famously represented the opposing (and also well-represented) group, which stated that there should be ‘separation of halachah and state,’ and which maintained that halachah does not enter the realm of social and political thought.
[See also Derashos Ha-Ran, no. 11, where the Ran writes that the Torah recognizes the need for the laws of a state, which compliment the laws of the Torah.]
Out of a general distancing from the State on ideological grounds, the leading luminaries in the Charedi world have not written much on these matters, without meaning to adopt a clear stance on the question above.
Concerning land for peace, Rav Schach was of the opinion that if giving back land can save lives, it should be done.
I am not sure where you can find extensive material about these questions in English, but in Hebrew much can be found in the annals of the Techumin journal, which are available online.
