Latest news with #historicmission
Asharq Al-Awsat
5 days ago
- Politics
- Asharq Al-Awsat
‘Greater Israel' Remark Sparks Arab Anger
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's reference to being on a 'historic and spiritual mission' tied to the vision of a 'Greater Israel' has drawn anger across the Arab world and sparked sharp criticism on social media, with analysts saying it was aimed at rallying his domestic base. Speaking to Israeli broadcaster i24, Netanyahu described the 'Israeli dream' as a 'mission of generations' passed down over time. 'I feel I am on a spiritual and historic mission for the Jewish people,' he said, according to The Times of Israel. During the interview, former right-wing lawmaker Sharon Gal presented Netanyahu with an amulet engraved with a map of 'Greater Israel.' Joking about Netanyahu's ongoing corruption trial, Gal said: 'I'm not giving it to you, so you won't get in trouble. It's a gift for your wife, Sara.' When asked whether he felt a connection with the 'Greater Israel' vision, Netanyahu replied: 'Very much.' The gift was not shown on screen, according to a clip Netanyahu posted on X. The term 'Greater Israel' has been used since Israel's victory in the 1967 Six-Day War to describe Israel along with East Jerusalem, the West Bank, Gaza, Egypt's Sinai Peninsula and Syria's Golan Heights. Asharq Al-Awsat sought official comment from Egypt but received no response. Social media users warned of Israel's expansionist ambitions, while Palestinian politician Mustafa Barghouti questioned Arab governments' silence. Egyptian media figure Nashaat al-Daihi called Netanyahu's remarks 'political suicide,' while Egyptian security expert Maj. Gen. Mohamed Abdel Wahed described them as 'the boldest ever,' reflecting 'a strategic ambition to reshape the Middle East and expand Israeli influence.' The comments also stirred anger because of claims on social media that Egypt and Jordan were named as part of 'Greater Israel' – although Netanyahu did not mention any countries in the interview. Egyptian commentator Louay al-Khatib said Netanyahu's extremism was 'beyond dispute' but denied the prime minister had explicitly included Egypt. Egyptian MP Mostafa Bakry called the remarks 'dangerous' and a revelation of Israel's 'real plan to target the whole region.' Former Egyptian deputy foreign minister Rakha Ahmed Hassan said the statement was 'serious and demands a serious response,' accusing Netanyahu of seeking to redraw the Middle East map 'under an American umbrella.' Netanyahu has previously signaled ambitions to reshape the region. At the UN General Assembly in September 2023, he held up a Middle East map that omitted the West Bank and Gaza. He repeated the gesture last year, calling one map 'paradise' and the other 'hell.' Jordanian analyst Abdel Hakim al-Qarala said Netanyahu's latest comments reflect 'the true face of the Israeli far right' and are intended to appeal to those who believe in the 'Greater Israel' dream. Egyptian strategist Khaled Okasha said Netanyahu aimed to frame the Gaza war as part of Israel's founding mission, strengthening his standing both at home and with the United States. The Arab League's statement on Netanyahu's comments called them a 'blatant violation of the sovereignty of Arab states and an attempt to undermine security and stability in the region.' The remarks, it added, 'reflect expansionist and aggressive intentions that cannot be accepted or tolerated' and also 'expose a mentality steeped in colonial delusions.'
Al Bawaba
6 days ago
- Politics
- Al Bawaba
Netanyahu says he Is on ‘historic mission' to realize Greater Israel vision
ALBAWABA- Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has declared that he sees himself on a 'historic and spiritual mission' to advance the vision of a 'Greater Israel', a concept that, according to Israeli claims, encompasses the occupied Palestinian territories as well as parts of Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, and Egypt. Speaking in a recent interview with channel 15, Netanyahu said he was 'very attached' to the Greater Israel idea, describing his role as a 'generational mission' on behalf of the Jewish people. 'If you're asking me if I have a sense of mission, historically and spiritually, the answer is yes,' he stated. צפו בראיון שלי עם שרון גל בערוץ I24NEWS >> — Benjamin Netanyahu - בנימין נתניהו (@netanyahu) August 12, 2025 The term 'Greater Israel' gained prominence after the June 1967 Six-Day War, referring to Israel and the territories it had just occupied, East Jerusalem, the West Bank, the Gaza Strip, the Sinai Peninsula, and the Golan Heights. Israel continues to occupy lands in Palestine, Syria, and Lebanon, and has long resisted international calls to withdraw to the 1967 borders and allow the establishment of an independent Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital. Last January, Israel's Ministry of Foreign Affairs posted a map on one of its platforms purporting to show an ancient 'Jewish kingdom' that extended into parts of today's Palestine, Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, and Egypt, a depiction critics say is designed to fabricate history and justify territorial expansion. Since October 7, 2023, some Israeli leaders and military officials have spoken openly of divine or civilizational missions, claiming their army is fighting on 'seven fronts' against 'barbarism.' These statements have come despite international condemnation, with the International Court of Justice and United Nations warning that ongoing Israeli assaults across multiple fronts may constitute war crimes and acts of genocide. Analysts say such rhetoric underscores the Israeli leadership's disregard for international law when ideological interpretations drive political and military decisions.
