What Benjamin Netanyahu and the Israeli Right Really Mean when They Invoke ‘Greater Israel’ | Daniel Levy

Why It Matters

If realized, Netanyahu’s Greater Israel agenda could reshape Middle‑East power balances, forcing the United States and regional actors to confront a more assertive, territorially ambitious Israel.

Key Takeaways

• Israel flattened Gaza, killing tens of thousands and restricting land to 12%.
• Netanyahu links Greater Israel to a hexagonal alliance across Asia, Africa, Europe.
• Goal: dominate region by weakening Iran and GCC, making them security‑dependent.
• Finance minister Smotrich publicly calls for Israeli expansion to Damascus.
• Israel seeks to become regional superpower, potentially outlasting US involvement.

Pulse Analysis

Netanyahu’s Greater Israel concept is more than rhetoric; it builds on decades of settlement expansion and recent wartime actions. The 2024 conflict with Iran gave Israel a pretext to intensify its grip on Gaza—compressing a million‑plus population into a sliver of land—and to accelerate demolition campaigns in the West Bank. Simultaneously, Israeli officials have openly discussed annexing parts of southern Lebanon and pushing beyond the Golan Heights into Syria, echoing a territorial ambition that has long simmered on the political right.

Beyond land grabs, the plan hinges on a sophisticated network of strategic partnerships. Netanyahu has outlined a “hexagon” of alliances that would link Israel with India, Gulf states, African nations, Greece, Cyprus and other Mediterranean partners. By proposing alternative oil and gas pipelines that bypass the Hormuz and Bab‑al‑Mandab straits, Israel aims to make regional energy flows dependent on its infrastructure, effectively turning former GCC states into security clients. This approach seeks to erode Iran’s influence while positioning Israel as the indispensable security guarantor for its neighbors.

The implications for U.S. foreign policy are profound. A more autonomous Israel could reduce Washington’s leverage in Middle‑East negotiations and force American planners to recalibrate support for a partner that may pursue its own expansionist agenda. Regional actors, especially the Palestinians, Saudi Arabia, and Turkey, face heightened security dilemmas as Israel’s dominance grows. Monitoring Israel’s diplomatic overtures and settlement moves will be critical for anticipating shifts in the regional order and preventing a destabilizing escalation.