DY, the Rosh on “Shenaim Ochazim” explains that the rationale of “kol d’alim gevar” is that someone will fight harder for what is his. This was shown in the Kotel controversy. When the Arabs saw that the Jews were willing to fight over it they backed down. Tzvi Fishman has an excellent parable about this in his anthology “Days of Mashiach”. A man knocked on someone’s door and informed him that he was the true owner of the TV. Not wanting to make a fuss the man handed it over. In the weeks that followed the same individual made similar demands. He then demanded the man’s wife. Finally he demanded the whole apartment. This is known as “give him an inch and he will take a mile”
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