Netanyahu's expansionist plans ignite a diplomatic storm - World - Al-Ahram Weekly

Al-Ahram Weekly

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Netanyahu's comments promoting 'Greater Israel' have drawn condemnation in the region and from the international community.
Amid the ongoing war on Gaza and an unprecedented escalation in violence, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has reignited controversy over the idea of 'Greater Israel' with fresh remarks that have drawn a storm of Palestinian, Arab, and international reactions and revived debate over the religious and political dimensions of Zionism.
In an interview with i24NEWS, Netanyahu did not hesitate to answer 'of course' when asked whether he believed in the vision of Greater Israel.
'If you ask me what I think, we are very much there,' he said, describing his mission as 'historic and spiritual' and extending across generations of Jews. The comments reflected Netanyahu's conviction that his role is not just a political term of office, but a mission rooted in a religious and historical legacy.
Analysts say his remarks are consistent with the discourse of Israel's far-right religious and nationalist currents, which view expansion and control over all of historic Palestine, and potentially parts of Jordan, Sinai, and the Golan Heights as well, as the fulfilment of a 'divine promise.'
According to Faisal Al-Jubeili, a researcher in Israeli political and religious affairs, Netanyahu's statement aligns fully with the long-standing Israeli belief that the 'Land of Israel' belongs entirely to the Jewish people.
He explained that in Israeli religious thought, this land includes territories stretching from the Golan Heights and the Litani River to parts of Jordan and Egypt. He noted that the slogan once used by former Israeli prime minister Menachem Begin's Likud Party, that 'the Jordan River has two banks, this one is ours and so is the other one,' echoes this doctrine.
Right-wing Zionist groups before Israel's establishment spoke of a Greater Israel that encompassed parts of Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, Iraq, and Saudi Arabia.
Political analyst Fouad Al-Lahham told Al-Ahram Weekly that the notion of Greater Israel has had deep roots in Zionist ideology since the 20th-century Zionist Ze'ev Jabotinsky's revisionist movement and draws on biblical texts interpreted politically to justify expansion.
He said Netanyahu, though known for his pragmatism, is now blending religious and political rhetoric, emboldened by alliances with Israeli ultra-Orthodox and nationalist parties that place 'the whole Land of Israel' at the core of their agenda.
'These remarks are not just an offhand phrase but reflect a school of thought seeking to impose a colonial vision cloaked in religious legitimacy and placing the region before new challenges,' Al-Lahham said.
He noted that Netanyahu's statements have also drawn fire at home. Israeli opposition leaders, including Yair Golan and Avigdor Lieberman, have accused him of exploiting religion and sovereignty for personal gain. They warn that his plans for Gaza and Greater Israel could drag the country into endless war.
Critics said Netanyahu is exposing Israel to open-ended confrontation and pursuing an expansionist rhetoric at odds with the country's security and diplomatic interests, particularly at a time of waning international support and growing isolation.
Military analysts say the Israeli army, engaged in prolonged operations in Gaza, has expressed concern. Senior generals have cautioned that expansionist policies could entangle the army in long-term occupation without an exit strategy and at heavy human and economic cost.
Statements by groups of retired officers, including the 'Commanders for Israel's Security,' urged an end to the war in Gaza and warned that Netanyahu's words deepen internal divisions and risk dragging the army into reckless confrontations.
Even within the Israeli military establishment, voices have cautioned that 'the prime minister's political imagination' may exceed the army's actual capacity, undermining internal resilience and readiness.
Al-Jubeili argued that Netanyahu's remarks are also tied to domestic politics, coming ahead of Israel's next elections. 'He always rallies right-wing support before elections and does not want to see other right-wing parties outflank him,' he said.
He added that the comments are unlikely to translate into immediate policies or budgets but rather revive the old Likud rhetoric as an election tactic.
REGIONAL CONDEMNATION: Palestinians said they were not surprised at the comments, describing Netanyahu's words as confirmation of the 'colonial mindset' underpinning Israeli policy.
Political sources within the Palestinian leadership called them a direct declaration of annexationist intentions, while the Palestinian factions said they marked the 'failure of the peace process' and a 'prelude to new escalation.'
The Palestinian Presidency condemned the statements, calling them a violation of international law and a threat to regional security. In a statement carried by the official Palestinian WAFA News Agency, the Presidency said the remarks were 'rejected and condemned' and represented 'a dangerous provocation and escalation.'
Across the Arab world, the responses were swift. Egypt demanded official clarifications and described the comments as a direct threat to peace and stability. Jordan labelled them a serious escalation and violation of sovereignty. Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait and Yemen also condemned the remarks as expansionist, while Al-Azhar in Cairo described them as exposing 'the true face of the occupation,' urging collective Arab and Islamic action.
The Arab League and the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation called them a blatant breach of international law and an attempt to impose a new expansionist reality.
However, analysts noted that despite the breadth of the condemnation, most Arab reactions had remained limited to statements, raising questions about concrete next steps.
Experts and commentators said that the Arab states must move beyond rhetoric to coordinated diplomatic efforts at the UN Security Council and General Assembly, backing the Palestinians politically and economically and through media support.
They also urged reactivating the Arab Peace Initiative with added pressure, linking normalisation with Israel to an end to the occupation and leveraging economic and energy power to pressure Israel's allies.
Salah Gomaa, deputy editor-in-chief of Egypt's Middle East News Agency, said Netanyahu's vision of Greater Israel revealed a 'dangerous expansionist drive threatening the stability of the entire region.'
'This is not merely a domestic slogan, but a direct contradiction of international law and a threat to Arab sovereignty,' Gomaa told the Weekly. He said the Arab response must move from statements to collective action, including reviving joint defence agreements and coordinated security and economic measures by frontline states such as Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Iraq and Kuwait.
He stressed that Israel must understand that any attempt at expansion would be met with unified rejection, requiring a mix of diplomatic, legal, and practical measures.
In Jordan, Netanyahu's comments were taken very seriously. Crown Prince Hussein bin Abdullah announced plans to reinstate compulsory military service during a meeting with young people in Irbid.
The Royal Court said the government would submit amendments to the conscription law to parliament urgently, with the programme due to take effect in 2026. The Crown Prince said the aim was to ensure Jordan's youth were 'fully ready to serve and defend the homeland.'
On Instagram, he wrote that 'national service is fundamental to strengthening our identity and our youth's bond with the land. Congratulations to all who will undertake this experience alongside our armed forces.'
Jordanian analysts and officials dismissed Netanyahu's rhetoric as a desperate attempt to export Israel's internal crisis. Senator Mohamed Daoudia said the remarks reflected Israeli anger at Jordan's stance under King Abdullah in defending Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank. He said Jordan's unity, its army, and its wide international ties gave it the strength to withstand threats.
Political analyst Hamza Al-Akaileh said Netanyahu's words were merely a diversionary tactic, stressing that Jordan's leadership, diplomacy and army made it 'impervious to collapse or chaos'.
INTERNATIONAL CONDEMNATION: Netanyahu's comments have also drawn widespread condemnation from the international community. The European Union, the United Nations, and several Western governments described the statements as provocative and in violation of international law.
The Organisation of Islamic Cooperation condemned the comments as an extension of extremism and aggression, while the Palestinian leadership said the remarks reflect 'colonial delusions' and an intent to entrench the occupation.
European institutions and several EU capitals, while not all addressing the 'Greater Israel' phrasing directly, have in recent days condemned Israeli expansionist steps and rhetoric that undermine prospects for a two-state solution.
The EU and European governments have criticised Israeli plans to take control of Gaza City and warned that such moves would deepen the crisis and violate international law. Senior European figures have also urged stronger accountability mechanisms for alleged violations in Gaza.
UN officials likewise warned that unilateral steps and annexationist rhetoric further erode the legal framework governing the conflict and risk wider regional escalation, reiterating calls for adherence to international humanitarian law and an urgent ceasefire.
In a statement, the UN secretary general's office called the remarks 'deeply concerning,' warning that they risk inflaming tensions in an already volatile region. The EU urged Israel to refrain from actions that undermine peace efforts and to respect the sovereignty of neighbouring states.
The United States also expressed its 'serious concern' over Netanyahu's rhetoric, stressing the need for a negotiated two-state solution and warning that expansionist statements threaten regional stability.
Several human rights organisations condemned the remarks, highlighting the potential impact on Palestinians' rights and the ongoing occupation.
Palestinian, Arab and even Israeli opposition voices concur that Netanyahu's talk of Greater Israel was neither a slip of the tongue nor mere campaign rhetoric, but part of a growing ideological and political trend in Israel driven by religious and nationalist right-wing forces.
Analysts warned the danger lies in the timing, alongside the Gaza war and accelerated annexation and settlement expansion in the West Bank, making it part of a practical plan on the ground.
* A version of this article appears in print in the 21 August, 2025 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly
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