Netanyahu's 'Greater Israel' is a geopolitical dominion project, not just territorial expansion
Source: https://www.theguardian.com/profile/daniellevy. "What Benjamin Netanyahu and the Israeli right really mean when they invoke ‘Greater Israel’ | Daniel Levy | The Guardian." April 13, 2026. www.theguardian.com
The Gist
The author argues that when Netanyahu talks about 'Greater Israel,' he's not just trying to grab more land - he's trying to make Israel the boss of the entire Middle East. The plan is to weaken Iran and make other countries depend on Israel for security and trade routes, creating a network of alliances with Israel at the center.
Conclusion
Netanyahu's 'Greater Israel' concept represents a sophisticated geopolitical strategy to establish Israel as the dominant regional superpower through strategic alliances and dependency relationships, not merely territorial acquisition
Premises
- Israel has been systematically expanding territory through military conquest in Gaza, West Bank, Syria, and Lebanon while government ministers openly advocate for further territorial expansion
- Netanyahu chose to pursue regional dominance through military force rather than accommodation with Palestinians when normalization efforts stalled after October 7th
- The war against Iran was designed to remove Iran as a regional power balancer and establish Israel as the dominant regional power according to Israeli security experts
- Israel intentionally weakened Gulf Cooperation Council states by making them dependent on Israel for security and alternative energy export routes when Iranian attacks disrupted the Strait of Hormuz
- Netanyahu has explicitly outlined a 'hexagon of alliances' vision with Israel as the central node connecting India, Arab nations, African nations, Mediterranean nations, and Asian nations
- Israeli military strategists have stated the goal is achieving 'operational control' in areas far from Israel's borders and establishing Israel as a 'queen of the jungle' in regional order
- This permanent war orientation runs deep across Israel's political class, security establishment, and media, indicating sustained commitment to the dominion project
Assumptions
- Military dominance can create sustainable regional alliances and dependencies
- Other regional powers will accept Israel's self-appointed role as regional hegemon
- The United States will continue supporting Israel's expansionist military campaigns
- Weakening neighboring states will enhance rather than threaten Israel's long-term security
- Regional states prefer Israeli dominance to Iranian influence