LU: “It sounds like you were saying that he would have approved of a deal with the Arabs at his time?”
Before 1948,the majority of the gedolei Torah were opposed to the idea of Jews declaring sovereignty in E.Y. This of course, primarily meant not declaring a state.
After the atheists, along with some “religious” assistants disregarded the gedolim’s opinion, and declared the state, a certain change took place.
The Chazon Ish zt”l held that we are anyway “partnered” with tje seculars even if we don’t want to be. (He did not rule that frum Yidden have to pack up and leave E.Y. because of this). For that, and other reasons, the Chazon Ish held to vote for a party in the Knesset and in the local municipalities that will see to the needs of the frum community. This was and is alos the opinion of many other gedolei Torah. The Brisker Rav zt”l agreed with them regarding municipal elections, but not for national (Knesset) elections.
The Satmar Rav zt”l remained adamant in his view about not recognizing the state and zionism in general. Even after the state came into existence. Therefore, NO voting, and NO taking govt. funds for schools.
Before 1948, some of the gedolei Yerushalayim wanted to try to reach some kind of understanding with KIng Abdalla of Transjordan (the present king’s grandfather). Rav Yosef Chaim Zonnenfeld was a prime believer in this attempt, and sent Dr. Yaakv DeHaan on “secret” missions to discuss peace with the king. The secular zionists were outraged at this, and Yitzchak BenZvi and his wife, went out (were sent) to dispose of DeHaan. Actually the wife pulled the trigger and shot DeHaan ha he was leaving shul after Ma’ariv.
I don’t know if the Satmar Rav zt”l would have sought out or approved of a “deal” with any Arab states. Before 1948, it might have been a possibility. TODAY, no gadol urges such an approach. And so, neither should any of us.