This week's Torah portion and its haftarah are filled with historical accounts of the difficulties our people have encountered in seeking a partner for peace. Moshe's fervent appeals to the Edomites and Emorties to allow his people to pass through their lands on their way to Eretz Yisrael are rejected with a show of force. Centuries later Yiftach meets the same resistance from the king of Ammon. Then there are the Canaanites and Og, king of Bashan, who wage undeclared wars.

History repeats itself in our day as an enemy threatens destruction and a neighbor makes negotiations for peace a near impossibility. Then as now it appears to be an exercise in self-delusion to believe that anything outside of Divine intervention will secure Israel forever.

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