The “Green Line” is the name that was given to the line that separated Israeli and enemy forces after the1948 War of Independence. The line was established through the 1949 armistice agreements that brought the war to an end. It functioned as Israel’s de facto border until the 1967 Six-Day War. It became known as the “Green Line” because green ink was used to draw the boundary on the map during the negotiations.
Following the Six-Day War, Israel took control of the West Bank, Gaza Strip and Sinai Peninsula.
When reading the Tanach, we find that most of our holiest sites are actually located over the “Green Line”.
Let’s take the story of Avraham in Parshat Lech Lecha for example. When Avraham arrived in the Land of C’naan, he reached Shechem and Elon Moreh and that is where God appeared to him and said (Breisheet 12:7) “To your descendants I will give this land.” Avraham then set up his tent between Beit El and Ai. All of these places would be considered over the “Green Line” today.
After Lot went to Sdom, God promised Avraham (Breisheet 13:14-17):
“Raise your eyes and look from the place where you are, to the north, to the south to the east to the west. For all the land that you see I give to you and to your descendants forever. I will make your descendants as the dust of the earth; so that if a man can count the dust of the earth, then your descendants too will be countable. Rise, walk the land through its length and breadth for to you I will give it.”
Avraham then settled in Elonei Mamre which is in Hevron (also over today’s “Green Line”).
In Breisheet 15:6, God took Avraham outside and told him: “Look towards the heavens and count the stars if you are able to see them. So numerous will your descendants be.”
In Breisheet 15:18, God made a covenant with Avraham saying: “To your descendants I have given this land, from the river of Egypt as far as the great river, the Euphrathes. The lands of the Keni, the Kenizi, the Kadmoni, the Chiti, the Prizi, the Refaim, the Emori, the C’naani, the Girgashi and the Yevusi.”
Rashi points out that in the future (after the coming of the Mashiach) the Jewish people will inherit the land of the seven nations as well as the lands of Edom (Keni), Moav (Kenizi) and Amon (Kadmoni).
God promised the entire Land of Israel to the Jewish people. Drawing a line on a map in 1948 does not take away from our rich history in those territories going all of the way back to Avraham.
May we take the opportunity as Avraham did to experience the holiness of the entire Land of Israel.
