On November 28, the "@IsraelArabic" account released a post dismissing allegations of Israeli ambitions for regional expansion as unfounded lies. The post explicitly denied the existence of any official Israeli statements supporting these claims.
The post stated: "These are lies promoted by some Arabs, Muslims, Palestinians, and their supporters in general. Let’s debunk them with facts... Lie: Jews want to expand and seize Lebanon, Jordan, Sinai, and other territories from the Nile to the Euphrates. Fact: This is a blatant lie. Israel’s official policies and peace treaties, such as those signed with Egypt and Jordan, reflect a commitment to secure and recognized borders, not territorial expansion. Israel has demonstrated its lack of expansionist ambitions through withdrawals from Sinai, Lebanon, and even Gaza unilaterally. Moreover, the slogan 'from the Nile to the Euphrates' is neither voiced by any Israeli politician nor found anywhere in Israel."
In this article, Misbar refutes the claims made by the "@IsraelArabic" account as part of its "Lies and Facts" series, which aims to promote misleading Israeli narratives.
The article focuses on analyzing the third installment of this series, highlighting contradictions between Israel's claims and statements made by Israeli officials. These statements reveal expansionist plans that include territories in Lebanon, Jordan, Sinai and beyond, contradicting Israel’s purported adherence to "peace treaties."
Racist Statements Expose Israel’s Expansionist Agenda
The documentary "Ministers of Chaos" featured remarks by Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich regarding his vision for a Jewish state that "respects Jewish values." When asked by a journalist whether Israel's sovereignty would remain confined to the area between the sea and the Jordan River, Smotrich responded, "It will happen step by step," adding, "Jerusalem’s destiny is to extend to Damascus." He emphasized, "Jerusalem alone, even up to Damascus."
This statement reflects an ideological vision rooted in far-right beliefs, advocating for Israel’s borders to expand significantly beyond their current limits to encompass parts of neighboring countries, including Syria, Lebanon, and Jordan.
Media outlets also reported comments attributed to Smotrich from 2016, when he was a member of the Israeli Knesset representing the far-right Jewish Home party. He allegedly told Israel’s Channel 2—which ceased broadcasting in 2017 and was replaced by Channels 12 and 13—that "Israel should annex the Syrian capital Damascus, Jordan, and parts of Egypt, Lebanon, Saudi Arabia, and Iraq."
After the remarks resurfaced, the Jordanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates strongly condemned them, characterizing them as incitement rooted in a dangerous ideological perspective. The ministry’s spokesperson rejected the inflammatory statements, denouncing them as a blatant violation of international law and established global norms.
The revelations did not end there. Speaking at a conference titled "The Real Middle East," the finance minister reaffirmed that a Palestinian state would never be established. He called for extending Israeli sovereignty over parts of the West Bank through settlement expansion policies aimed at building new cities and bringing in thousands of settlers. Smotrich also warned Palestinians opposing this plan to either face forced emigration or endure harsher measures by the Israeli military.
Israeli Heritage Minister Promotes Post Advocating Occupation of Sinai
In July, Israeli Heritage Minister Amihai Eliyahu shared a post advocating for the occupation of Egypt’s Sinai Peninsula. The tweet encouraged purchasing a T-shirt printed with the slogan “Occupation Now” and a map including the West Bank, Gaza Strip, Sinai and the Golan Heights. Eliyahu captioned the post: “The people demand occupation—occupation now.”
At the same time, social media user Ayelet Lash tweeted, urging followers to buy a shirt displaying what she described as a map of Israel—including the West Bank, Gaza Strip and Sinai—alongside the slogan “Occupation Now.” The tweet also linked to a website selling products bearing this slogan, which calls for expanding Israeli sovereignty into Sinai, southern Lebanon and Jordan.
Israeli media noted that spokespersons for both Eliyahu and National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir did not respond to requests for comment regarding the post. Additionally, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office declined to comment when questioned about the minister’s controversial remarks.
Daniella Weiss Claims Israel’s Borders Stretch From the Nile to the Euphrates
In an interview with The New Yorker, Daniella Weiss, a leader in the West Bank settlement movement, stated that the borders of the "Jewish homeland" stretch from the Nile River to the Euphrates River. She clarified that Palestinians could remain in Israeli settlements provided they accepted Jewish sovereignty over them.
Weiss described settlement expansion as “the end of Jewish dispersal and the beginning of the Jewish nation's revival.” She added that her vision for the Jewish homeland’s borders includes the Euphrates to the east and the Nile to the southwest.
These remarks reflect an expansionist vision that extends beyond the historical borders of Palestine, hinting at the annexation of territories from neighboring Arab countries. Weiss’s statements promote the notion that Israel’s ambitions extend far beyond its current borders, encompassing vast lands between the two rivers.
Signs of Israel’s Regional Aspirations
While Israel often promotes a narrative of commitment to secure borders and rejection of territorial expansion, statements from its politicians and the use of symbolic maps reveal a broader expansionist agenda that contradicts its stated adherence to international treaties. These signals suggest an intent to consolidate control within Palestine and potentially reshape regional alliances to enhance Israeli influence.
In September, during his address to the United Nations General Assembly, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu presented two maps as part of his vision for a “New Middle East.” The first, referred to as the “Map of Blessing,” included Arab nations such as Egypt, Saudi Arabia and the UAE, while conspicuously omitting the State of Palestine. The second map, labeled the “Map of Curse,” depicted adversaries like Iraq, Syria and Iran. In both maps, the West Bank and Gaza Strip appeared as integral parts of Israel.
Although Netanyahu did not explicitly advocate for expanding Israel’s borders beyond the West Bank and Gaza, the complete omission of Palestine and the symbolism behind the regional alliances he proposed carry strategic implications. These elements suggest a potential reconfiguration of the regional political landscape in ways that align with and advance Israeli interests.
Israeli Finance Minister Advocates ‘Greater Israel’ Map
In March 2023, during a speech in Paris, Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich stood at a podium featuring a controversial map of the so-called "Greater Israel." The map depicted Israel as including all of Palestine and Jordan and displayed the emblem of "Irgun," a notorious Zionist paramilitary organization active in historic Palestine.
From this platform, Smotrich delivered a provocative speech denying the existence of the Palestinian people. He declared: "There is no such thing as a Palestinian people; this is the truth that must be heard in the White House." He went on to claim: "The Palestinian people are nothing but an invention less than 100 years old." Smotrich further asserted that the "real Palestinians" were Jews, like his ancestors who had lived in Jerusalem for generations.
Statements by Israeli officials, including Smotrich, reveal that a segment of Israel’s political leadership promotes rhetoric advocating Israeli expansion into the Arab region. This directly contradicts assertions by the @IsraelArabic account, which dismissed the prevalence of such rhetoric within Israel’s political circles.
Read More
Lobby Groups Intensify Efforts To Shape Media Narrative for Israel During Gaza War
Disinformation Campaign Targets ICC's Credibility After Netanyahu, Gallant Warrant
