General Discussion
In reply to the discussion: Is Bibi currently turning people more anti-Semitic. [View all]magicarpet
(18,715 posts)To take lands within their own borders and Middle Eastern lands beyond their borders to construct Israeli hegemony over the area for decades to come.
************
××××××××××
What comprises the Greater Israel Plan of expansion - where, how, and why.
"A Greater Israel" (Eretz Yisrael Hashlema) is a controversial, long-standing Zionist vision for a state extending beyond current borders, potentially covering Palestine, Jordan, and parts of Syria, Lebanon, Egypt, and Iraq. While once considered fringe, this ideology is now increasingly mainstreamed by far-right figures in the current Israeli government and moves to expand settlements.
Al Jazeera
Core Aspects of the "Greater Israel" Concept:
Territorial Vision: Often described as spanning from the Euphrates in Iraq to the Nile in Egypt, or encompassing both sides of the Jordan River.
Ideological Origins: Rooted in Zionist ideology developed by figures such as Theodor Herzl and Ze'ev Jabotinsky, sometimes linked to biblical interpretations of promised land.
Modern Pursuit: The current Netanyahu government is accused of making territorial expansion central to its policies, with some leaders openly calling for the annexation of the West Bank and Gaza.
Middle East Political and Economic Institute
Methods of Expansion:
Settlement Expansion: Continued construction of Israeli settlements and outposts in the West Bank and East Jerusalem.
Military Occupation: Seizure of land through conflict, including the Golan Heights, and ongoing military operations in Gaza and southern Syria.
Annexation and Buffer Zones: Creating "security zones" or annexing territories, often presented as temporary measures that become permanent, such as in the Syrian Golan Heights and, more recently, parts of southern Syria.
YouTube
Regional and Political Implications:
Displacement: Critics cite the displacement of Palestinians and potential for further ethnic cleansing to create a larger Jewish majority.
Regional Conflict: Attempts to build this entity are viewed as a driver of instability, aiming to weaken neighboring Arab states.
Undefined Borders: Israel has never formally defined its final borders, which allows for continued territorial expansion.
YouTube