Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s recent remarks regarding Greater Israel have reignited tensions in the Middle East, particularly among Gulf nations. Netanyahu views this as a historical and spiritual undertaking, envisioning a significantly expanded Israel. This expansion, if realized, would encompass not only Palestinian territories but also portions of Jordan, Egypt, and potentially other neighboring countries.
The concept of Greater Israel draws both biblical and political significance, often linked to Zionist aspirations in the region. The idea, rooted in the vision of Zionism’s founder, Theodor Herzl, suggests a Jewish state stretching from the Nile to the Euphrates. The notion gained prominence after the 1967 Six-Day War and has resurfaced periodically.
Defining Greater Israel:
The biblical basis for Greater Israel outlines its potential boundaries. The allocation of land to the Israelites, as described in Joshua 13-22, extends from Jerusalem’s southern reaches to the Sea of Galilee. The “promised land,” envisioned as spanning “from the Nile to the Euphrates,” is traditionally understood as encompassing an area approximately 50 miles wide and 150 miles long, marked by the phrase “from Dan to Beersheba.”
Based on this interpretation, the expansion could involve:
* Western Iraq in the east
* Parts of Egypt in the west
* Lebanon and Syria in the north
* Northern Saudi Arabia in the south
Projected Size of Greater Israel:
Currently, Israel covers approximately 22,000 square kilometers. The realization of Greater Israel could see its territory expand to an estimated 100,000 square kilometers, incorporating parts of Syria, Lebanon, Palestine, Egypt, and Iraq.
Historical Context: Greater Israel at the Cairo Summit
The concept of Greater Israel was discussed during the 1990 Arab summit in Cairo. Muammar al-Gaddafi, then-President of Libya, presented Yasser Arafat, the leader of the Palestinian Liberation Organization, with a map illustrating Greater Israel. This map included Palestine, Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, Iraq, northern Saudi Arabia, and significant portions of Egypt. Notably, the same map had been displayed at the AIPAC conference the previous year.