TEHRAN – For decades, the idea of “Greater Israel” has existed more as a political and ideological aspiration than as a formal policy. 

Rooted in a hardline strand of Zionist thought that emphasizes historical and religious claims to land stretching far beyond the Israeli-occupied territories, it has shaped both the rhetoric and, increasingly, the policies of Israeli leaders. While once largely symbolic, these ideas have resurfaced in recent years, drawing renewed attention to Israel’s occupation of Palestinian land and its impact on regional stability.

Israeli officials have repeatedly emphasized historic and spiritual claims as justification for settlement expansion and military control. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has defended ongoing settlement activity in the West Bank as part of Israel’s national identity and security. Bezalel Smotrich has gone further, openly opposing the establishment of a Palestinian state and advocating the extension of Israeli sovereignty over occupied territories. Public appearances featuring maps that incorporate Palestinian land and parts of neighboring states reinforce the perception that expansionist ideology is moving into the political mainstream.

The recent remarks by U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee, suggesting it would be “fine” if Israel expanded into territories between the Nile and the Euphrates, reignited international debate over the limits of Israeli ambition and the alignment of U.S. support with expansionist rhetoric.

The reality on the ground has long been contentious. Israel’s occupation of the West Bank, now in its sixth decade, continues through settlements, military presence, and measures that systematically disadvantage Palestinian communities. Gaza has endured repeated Israeli military campaigns, with severe humanitarian consequences. In Lebanon and Syria, Israeli airstrikes have escalated regional tensions. These campaigns, justified by Israel as security measures, often exacerbate instability and provoke international concern.

International law consistently challenges these actions. In 2024, the International Court of Justice issued an advisory opinion declaring Israel’s occupation of Palestinian territories unlawful and calling for its end. Israel disputes this ruling, claiming the territories are disputed and citing security needs. Nevertheless, the ruling underscores the global consensus that occupation and expansion, particularly when tied to religious or historical claims, violate internationally recognized norms.

Critics argue that the intertwining of ideology and policy—settlement expansion justified by religious narratives, military campaigns framed as preemptive defense, and the marginalization of Palestinian rights—represents more than rhetoric. It is a systematic strategy that undermines prospects for a negotiated solution, entrenches control over Palestinian land, and fuels suspicion among neighboring states. While the realization of a literal “Greater Israel” across neighboring countries remains improbable, incremental changes—through settlements, annexation efforts, and military dominance—gradually reshape reality in ways that threaten regional stability.

The persistence of expansionist rhetoric and military assertiveness raises broader concerns. If long-term occupation and unilateral territorial claims are normalized, they challenge the principle, central to the post–World War II international order, that borders cannot be redrawn by force. This pattern risks destabilizing not only the Middle East but also the global rules-based system designed to prevent such conflicts.

Ultimately, the debate over “Greater Israel” highlights the tension between ideology, policy, and law. Israeli leaders assert historical and security justifications for their actions, yet the combination of occupation, settlement growth, and military intervention exposes Palestinians to ongoing dispossession and undermines regional peace. Whether the trajectory reflects defensive necessity or deliberate expansionism, it is clear that Israel’s current policies—rooted in Zionist ideology and enforced through occupation—pose profound challenges to justice, stability, and the prospects for lasting peace in the region.