Arab countries condemn Netanyahu's statements about "Greater Israel"

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's statements regarding his commitment to what is called the "Greater Israel vision," which includes the annexation of lands from Arab countries to achieve this goal, have sparked a wave of anger and official condemnations from Arab countries.

During an interview with the Israeli i24 channel, Netanyahu described the "Israeli dream" as a "mission of generations" passed down from one generation to another, affirming that he feels he is on a spiritual and historical mission for his people.

The interviewer, former right-wing deputy Sharon Gal, presented him with a gift in the form of a charm bearing the map of "Greater Israel," which includes Israeli territories such as East Jerusalem, the West Bank, the Gaza Strip, the Egyptian Sinai Peninsula, and the Syrian Golan Heights, a term dating back to the Six-Day War in 1967.

Netanyahu confirmed his attachment to this vision, according to what he published on his account on the "X" platform.

In response to the Arab reactions, the Jordanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs condemned the statements, describing them as a "serious threat to the safety of countries and a blatant violation of international law and the United Nations Charter."

The official spokesperson, Sufyan al-Qudah, stated that these statements "reflect absurd illusions that will not affect Jordan and the Arab countries, nor will they touch the legitimate and inalienable rights of the Palestinian people."

He added that Netanyahu's statements come at a time when the Israeli government is suffering from international isolation amid its ongoing aggression against Gaza and the West Bank.

For its part, the Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a strongly worded statement condemning the remarks, expressing its complete rejection of Israeli settlement and expansion projects, and affirming the "historical and legal right of the Palestinian people to establish their independent sovereign state in accordance with international laws."

The Arab League expressed its "strongest condemnation" of the statements, considering them a "violation of the sovereignty of Arab countries and a threat to security and stability in the region."

It confirmed that these statements constitute a "serious threat to collective Arab national security and a blatant challenge to international law," warning of "the extremist mentality and colonial illusions that they reflect."

The League called on the international community, particularly the United Nations Security Council, to assume their responsibilities and take decisive positions against these statements that increase regional hatred and rejection of the occupying state.

The Secretary-General of the Gulf Cooperation Council, Jasem Mohammed Al-Budaiwi, also condemned the statements, describing them as a "flagrant violation of the United Nations Charter and international law and a blatant assault on the sovereignty of countries and their territorial integrity."

He warned that these statements pose a direct threat to regional and international security and stability, emphasizing the Council's rejection of any infringement on the national sovereignty of Arab countries.

Al-Budaiwi called on the international community to take a firm stance and stop these statements that increase tensions and hinder opportunities for comprehensive and just peace.

Netanyahu's new statements open a hot file that brings back to the forefront regional and legal conflicts over sovereignty and land, at a time when the region is experiencing escalating tensions and deepening crises, making it essential to monitor the upcoming international and regional reactions.