Israel's ongoing struggle to find a partner among the Palestinians with whom to bring an end to the terrorist threat seems to echo a similar situation faced by our ancestors thousands of years ago.

In this week's Torah portion we learn of the peace-seeking message sent by our people to Sichon, the Emorite king, asking for permission to pass through his land on their way to Eretz Yisrael. Not only did they assure him that no harm would come to his country but they even suggested that his people would derive economic benefit from the purchases that would be made.

Sichon not only refused but even went to war with the Israelites, a war in which he lost his land.

In the haftarah we hear of Yiftach's sending a message of peace to the Ammonite king, reminding him of this encounter with the Emorites and its consequences.

Throughout history our people have seriously sought partners for peace only to discover that they really had no one but G-d to rely on to secure Israel forever.

===================================== By Rabbi Mendel Weinbach, Dean, Ohr Somayach Institutions

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