A coalition of 31 Arab and Islamic countries has strongly reacted to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s recent pronouncements regarding a ‘Greater Israel.’ From Saudi Arabia to Turkey and Pakistan, these nations have collectively denounced Netanyahu’s remarks, considering them an assault on Arab security, regional sovereignty, and global peace.
The joint statement was supported by the Arab League, the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC). However, the absence of Iran was a striking feature of this concerted effort. Despite being a prominent supporter of the Palestinian cause, Iran did not join the joint declaration.
The joint statement denounced Netanyahu’s assertion of a Greater Israel as a violation of international law and diplomatic protocols, and a threat to global stability. The statement identified Israel’s alleged racist and extremist views as the primary threat to regional peace. Foreign ministers emphasized that Israel’s sovereignty claims over occupied Palestinian territories are invalid. They appealed to the international community, particularly the United States and the permanent members of the Security Council, to pressure Israel to cease its actions and withdraw from Gaza.
Netanyahu, in a recent interview, revealed his commitment to the concept of Greater Israel, which encapsulates an expansionist view. This concept includes areas beyond Israel’s current borders, considered to be historically or religiously part of Israel, such as East Jerusalem, the West Bank, the Gaza Strip, the Sinai Peninsula, and the Golan Heights. This idea has long been debated. Many Arab nations and the international community view it as an expansionist and destabilizing policy.
The non-participation of Iran in the collective condemnation has sparked considerable discussion. Analysts speculate that Arab nations aim to isolate Israel through unified diplomatic pressure, while Iran may be pursuing a different approach, potentially involving direct confrontation. Consequently, Iran did not participate in this large-scale event. While the joint declaration of the 31 nations significantly impacts Israel, Iran’s absence indicates a lack of complete unity within the Muslim world regarding the Palestinian issue.