The Torah commands in Parashat Mishpatim (Shemot 23:32), in reference to the seven nations which inhabited the Land of Israel (Canaan) at that time, “Lo Tichrot Lahem Ve’l’Elohehem Berit” – that it is forbidden to make a treaty with these peoples. The Sefer Ha’hinuch explains that these nations – who are knowns as the seven nations of Canaan – were the “Ikar Aboda Zara Ve’yesod Ha’rishon” – the primary “foundation” of idol-worship in the ancient world. As G-d wants us to eliminate idolatrous beliefs and practices, so that all of humanity recognizes Hashem as the single, true G-d, we are commanded not to make peace with the Canaanite peoples, and to instead eliminate them. The Sefer Ha’hinuch adds that this command also forbids making a treaty with any idolatrous people, though a distinction exists in this regard between the seven Canaanite nations and other pagans. When it comes to the seven Canaanite nations, we are forbidden from making a treaty with them even if they do not seek to wage war against us. Since they are, as mentioned, the primary idolaters, we are not to deal peacefully them even if they are not interested in conflict. When it comes to other nations, however, we are permitted to enter into peace treaties with them as long as they do not seek to engage in conflict. Proof to this position may be drawn from the story told in the Book of Yehoshua of the Gibonim, a tribe that belonged to the seven nations and which approached Beneh Yisrael disguised as a foreign nation. Knowing that Beneh Yisrael set out to eliminate the seven nations, the Gibonim pretended to have originated from a distant land, and asked to make a treaty with Beneh Yisrael. Even after discovering that the Gibonim were actually from Eretz Yisrael, the leaders of Beneh Yisrael nevertheless decided to honor the treaty, and had them work as woodcutters and water-carriers. The Rabbis explained that they honored the treaty because if they had killed the Gibonim after having made a treaty with them, this would have created a Hilul Hashem (defamation of G-d). Although the treaty was made under deception, nevertheless, killing the Gibonim would have given the appearance of breaking an agreement, thus creating a Hilul Hashem. It emerges, then, that if not for the concern of a Hilul Hashem, Beneh Yisrael would have eliminated the Gibonim, even though they did not seek hostilities and were interested in peace. This proves that when it comes to the seven nations – as opposed to other pagan peoples – the prohibition against making a treaty applies even if these nations are not interested in war. Even when it comes to the seven nations, however, if they commit to abandon idolatry, then we may accept their repentance and make a treaty with them. Indeed, the Midrash (Debarim Rabba) relates that before Beneh Yisrael waged war against the seven nations, Beneh Yisrael’s leader – Yehoshua – sent a message to these nations offering them peace in exchange for their rejection of idolatry. One who enters into a peace treaty with one of the seven nations, or a different pagan nation that is hostile to Beneh Yisrael, violates this prohibition. The violator does not receive Malkut, however, because this violation does not involve a concrete action. This prohibition reflects the broader notion that the Jewish People are charged with the responsibility of leading the entire world to the recognition of the one, true G-d. This mission will be fully accomplished in the times of Mashiah, when, as the famous prophecy foresees, “Ve’haya Hashem Le’melech Al Kol Ha’aretz, Be’yom Ha’hu Yiheyeh Hashem Ehad U’shmo Ehad” – “Hashem shall be the King over the entire earth; on that day, Hashem shall be one and His Name shall be one” (Zecharya 14:9).