Arabs condemn 'biblical Israel map' annexing neighbouring lands

Palestinian and Arab officials have condemned the publication of a map on the Israeli government's Arabic-language Instagram account which depicts parts of the occupied Palestinian territories and neighbouring Arab lands as part of "greater Israel". 

The post sparked outrage from Palestinians and Arab countries, who called on the international community to rein in Israel's expansionist ambitions and prevent it from attempting to seize more Palestinian and Arab territory.

A spokesperson for Jordan's foreign ministry condemned the post "in the strongest terms" and described the illustration as "allegations and illusions" promoted by Israel's right wing to prevent the establishment of a Palestinian state.

Qatar's foreign ministry said the map "claiming to represent historical Israel" was a "flagrant violation" of international norms, warning that Israel's evident aspirations could further hinder the chances of peace in the region.

Doha called on the international community to "fulfil its legal and moral responsibilities by pressuring the Israeli occupation to comply with international legitimacy resolutions and confront its expansionist ambitions in Arab lands".

The UAE issued a foreign ministry statement slamming the map as a "flagrant violation and breach of international law".

"The UAE's absolute rejection of all provocative practices aimed at altering the legal status of the occupied Palestinian territories," the statement, carried by WAM, said.

The ministry stressed the need to "put an end to unlawful practices that threaten the two-state solution and the establishment of an independent Palestinian state".

Similarly, the Saudi foreign ministry also rejected the "Israeli allegations" related to the map, saying "such extremist allegations demonstrate the intention of the occupation authorities to consolidate their occupation and continue blatant attacks on sovereign states, and violate international laws".

It urged "the international community to play its role in stopping Israeli violations against the countries and peoples of the region, and to stress the need to respect the sovereignty of states and their borders, to limit the exacerbation of the region's crises, and to undermine efforts aimed at achieving a just and comprehensive peace."

The Arab League also condemned the publication of the maps by Israeli accounts.

The Arab League Secretary-General, Ahmed Aboul Gheit, stated in a press release that "the publication of these alleged maps is not a trivial act and must be understood in the context of the extreme right-wing extremism and religious obsession engulfing the Israeli government and its leaders, to the extent of invoking and promoting historical myths as facts."

Palestinian condemnations

Hamas also rejected in a Telegram statement calls to annexe territories marked on the map as "a confirmation of the Israeli occupation's aggressive nature and expansionist ambitions".

It said Israel's "hostile policies and repetitive public statements… necessitate strong stances and measures by the Arab League and Arab and Muslim governments to confront these ambitions and stop the continuing Zionist crimes against our Palestinian people".

Nabil Abu Rudeineh, the spokesman for Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, also denounced the map and described it as "a blatant violation of all international legitimacy resolutions and laws", according to Wafa.

The Arab League also condemned the map, with Secretary-General Ahmed Aboul Gheit warning on Wednesday that the provocation risks inflaming extremism.

The publication of the map comes as extremist ministers in the Israeli government talk up prospects of a full Israeli annexation of the occupied West Bank and the rebuilding of settlements in Gaza - both Palestinian territories illegally occupied by Israel since 1967.

Far-right Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich in November declared that "2025 will be the year of sovereignty in Judea and Samaria", referring to the occupied West Bank.

The minister, who also heads a government body managing Israel's illegal settlements, ordered preparations for the eventual seizure of the Palestinian territory.

Donald Trump's imminent return to the White House has raised fears the next US administration will be even more permissive towards Israeli expansionism than Joe Biden, who did little to curb the spread of settlements - illegal under international law - during his term in office.

Several senior figures in Trump’s hard-right administration have voiced support for Israeli annexation, including his ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee.  

Smotrich hailed Trump's election win in November and called it an opportunity to "apply sovereignty" in the occupied Palestinian territories.