MANY people are increasingly convinced that Israel harbors expansionist ambitions beyond its current borders. These beliefs are rooted in religious ideologies, several statements by political leaders, policies implemented on the ground, and symbols adopted by various Israeli groups.
The concept of “Greater Israel” (Eretz Israel HaShlema) serves as the cornerstone of discussions about Israeli ambitions and is supported by Christian Zionists in America. Although there is no unified agreement on the precise borders of this territory, the most common narrative suggests it extends from the Nile to the Euphrates. This is referenced in Genesis 15:18, “On that day the Lord made a covenant with Abram, saying, “To your descendants I give this land, from the river of Egypt to the great river, the Euphrates.” The two blue stripes on the Israeli flag are said to symbolize the Nile and Euphrates rivers, with the star between them representing the Jewish state.
Many also view Israel’s actual policies as the strongest evidence of its expansionist intentions, regardless of official statements. The ongoing expansion of Israeli settlements in the territories occupied since 1967, which are recognized by the international community as Palestinian land, amounts to “creeping annexation” and represents a practical step toward realizing “Greater Israel,” at least in its Palestinian dimension.
The annexation of the occupied Syrian Golan Heights in 1981 further demonstrates that Israel is disregarding internationally recognized borders in pursuit of expanding its sovereignty. Israel has also openly expressed ambitions toward the Litani River in Lebanon, has occupied parts of it, and controlled the Sinai Peninsula for decades.
The Likud Party’s charter, which is the platform of Israel’s most powerful political party, states that “the right of the Jewish people to the Land of Israel is non-negotiable.” This originally included Jordan as part of the Land of Israel, though this was later amended. Nevertheless, this ideology continues to influence the party’s leadership. Far-right and religious movements and parties, which have become influential components of Israeli governments, openly call for the annexation of the entire West Bank (referred to biblically as Judea and Samaria) and the imposition of Israeli sovereignty over it.
These parties regard this as a religious duty. Despite denials from some of our allies, Israel’s expansionist ambitions, settlement policies, and annexation of territories remain policies upheld by influential factions within the country and are evident in their actions on the ground. In light of these facts, some Israeli agents argue that Israel’s relatively small population disqualifies it from ruling over Egypt, Syria, Jordan, Iraq, and the Gulf states, whose combined population is approximately 250 million. However, Zionist agents overlook the example of British colonial expansion, which reached its peak after World War I, controlled 70 territories and countries with a population of 460 million, despite Britain’s own population being only around 43 million at the time. Britain’s success was due to its technological, military, and intelligence superiority, coupled with the weakness and backwardness of the colonized peoples, as well as the presence of mercenaries who aided British rule in their own countries. Therefore, dismissing talk of Israeli ambitions as “nonsense” and claiming it is impossible for seven million Israelis to occupy and rule hundreds of millions of Arabs is itself pure nonsense and a lie. Mercenaries are tasked with downplaying the Zionist threat.
Meanwhile, given the exceptional circumstances the region is currently facing and in anticipation of uncertain developments, I commend the decision of the First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior to close the Husseiniyas during the upcoming Ashura and relocate the ceremonies to safer venues.
By Ahmad alsarraf
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