Netanyahu’s 'Greater Israel' remarks spark outrage across Arab states

Several Arab countries have denounced recent inflammatory remarks by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, in which he declared his attachment to an expansionist vision of a "Greater Israel"- prompting governments to call his statements "a threat to the sovereignty of states".

Speaking to Israeli news channel i24 on Tuesday, Netanyahu said he had felt “very attached” to the vision of a Greater Israel- a term in Israeli politics referring to the expansion of Israel’s territory to include the West Bank, Gaza, and Syria’s Golan Heights, with some interpretations also encompassing Egypt’s Sinai Peninsula and parts of Jordan.

He added that he had considered himself "on a historic and spiritual mission" for "generations of Jews that dreamt of coming here and generations of Jews who will come after us".

Arab governments have condemned the remarks, describing them as emblematic of the Israeli aggression that has afflicted the region since the genocidal war on Gaza began in October 2023.

The Jordanian Foreign Ministry called the remarks "a dangerous and provocative escalation, a threat to the sovereignty of states, a violation of international law and the UN Charter", adding: "These delusional claims, which are reflected in the statements of Israeli officials, will not affect Jordan and the Arab states and will not diminish the legitimate and inalienable rights of the Palestinian people."

The ministry said that such rhetoric "encourages the continuation of cycles of violence and conflict” in Gaza and the West Bank, and urged the international community to act against Israel’s "provocative measures and statements that threaten the stability of the region and international peace and security."

Nidal al-Taani, a Jordanian parliamentarian and member of the Foreign Affairs Committee, told The New Arab’s sister site al-Araby al-Jadeed that Netanyahu exports his internal crises abroad, including to Jordan, making such provocations "permanent and continuous."

Both Hamas and the Palestinian Authority also condemned Netanyahu’s remarks.

The Palestinian Authority called them "a disregard of the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people" and "a dangerous provocation and escalation that threatens the security and stability of the region."

Hamas urged the international community to "take action to rein in his government, halt his brutal war against civilians in Gaza, and confront his ambitions to expand his aggression in response to fascist prophecies and fantasies, which threaten regional and international security."

Yemen’s Foreign Ministry described Netanyahu’s statements as "a blatant violation of international legitimacy resolutions and international law, and a clear challenge to the will of the international community,” warning they would “push the region toward further tension and instability," while condemning the "Greater Israel Vision".

Qatar, a mediator in so-far unsuccessful Gaza ceasefire talks, said the comments were "an extension of the (Israeli) occupation’s approach based on arrogance, fueling crises and conflicts and blatantly infringing on the sovereignty of states, international law.”

The ministry reaffirmed Qatar’s support for "all efforts aimed at achieving a just, comprehensive and sustainable peace in the region."

Saudi Arabia rejected the "expansionist ideas and projects" of Israeli officials, reiterating "the historical and legal right of the brotherly Palestinian people to establish their independent, sovereign state on their lands."

In a statement, The Arab League also called the remarks "a serious threat to collective Arab national security," while the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) said they were an attempt to evade Israel’s obligations as an occupying power and warned of "the dangers of this colonial, expansionist rhetoric, which poses a threat to regional and international peace and security, fuels the cycle of violence, and prolongs and expands the conflict."

Oman’s Foreign Ministry voiced its "categorical rejection of Netanyahu’s illegal expansionist plans."

Egypt’s Foreign Ministry reiterated its commitment to peace and stated "there is no way to achieve peace except through a return to negotiations, ending the war on Gaza, and establishing a Palestinian state."

Netanyahu’s remarks come amid mounting global outrage over Israel's genocidal war on Gaza which has killed over 61,000 Palestinians since October 2023.

Last week, his office announced plans for the Israeli military to escalate its nearly two-year-old war on the Gaza Strip by taking control of Gaza City- a move likely to endanger more Palestinian civilians in the war-torn enclave.