The Rebbe’s emphatic words regarding settlement of the entire Holy Land elicited many reactions and denunciations. Here are some of the answers which the Rebbe gave in replying to the detractors.
There were those who agreed that the optimal situation would indeed have been to immediately settle all the territories which had been liberated. However, they claimed, since they were not settled then, it is an impossible goal today. Similarly, there were those who said that since promises had already been made not to settle those places, it is impossible to do so now.
The Rebbe answered these assertions in his address of Motzoei Shabbos Mishpatim, 5738 (1978). The Rebbe calls the first claim a deception. Yes, it would have been preferable to settle the entire land immediately when the territories were liberated, but it is still possible to settle them today.
Regarding the second claim, the Rebbe said:
As to their claim that they promised someone etc. — this claim lacks all foundation, since one cannot promise something which does not belong to him; the Land is something which belongs to the Holy One, and He gave it to every Jew, and to all of the Jews as an everlasting inheritance; thus, it belongs to the Jews forever. In any case, the gentile to whom they made this promise, does not believe that the Jews will truly honor it.1 Of course, this stems from the fact that the nations themselves reneged on the conditions they established, and broke their word on several occasions. This leaves a wide opening for the Jews to do as G‑d wishes.
