"Provocative and baseless:" Arab countries denounce greater Israel map

Arab nations, including Qatar, Jordan, Palestine, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates, strongly condemned the controversial map of the so-called “historical Israel.”

The map, shared by several social media accounts linked to the Israeli government, depicted Jordan, Syria, Lebanon, and other Arab countries as part of a Zionist state, in addition to the occupied Palestinian territories.

Palestinian Authority spokesperson Nabil Abu Rudeineh denounced the map as a blatant violation of international law. He called on the incoming U.S. administration, led by Donald Trump, to intervene and put an end to Israel’s expansionist policies.

Saudi Arabia’s Foreign Ministry criticized the map, describing it as baseless and extremist. The ministry said such actions expose Israel’s ambitions to consolidate its occupation, undermine the sovereignty of neighboring states, and violate international law. The kingdom urged the international community to take immediate action to halt Israel’s ongoing violations against the region’s countries and peoples.

Jordan’s Foreign Ministry, also implicated in the so-called “Greater Israel” map, condemned the provocative move. It declared that such aggressive measures cannot undermine Jordan’s sovereignty or the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people.

The Jordanian ministry called the map “false” and demanded Israel “immediately cease its provocative actions and reckless statements, which only escalate tensions and contribute to regional instability.” Jordanian officials also highlighted that the map’s release coincided with inflammatory remarks by far-right Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, who advocated for the annexation of Gaza and the Palestinian territories in the West Bank.

Qatar’s Foreign Ministry labeled the map a serious violation of the sovereignty of other nations.

The United Arab Emirates also condemned Israel’s attempts to sustain its occupation plans and criticized efforts to alter the legal status of Palestinian territories. The UAE warned that such provocations jeopardize the prospects for a two-state solution. It further emphasized the need for the United Nations and the Security Council to take urgent steps to ensure peace and security in the Middle East.

In September, Social media users raised concerns following claims that some Israeli soldiers involved in Gaza’s ground operations were seen wearing badges depicting a map of 'Greater Israel.' 

This concept has been often mentioned by far-right Israeli ministers in the past, and it envisions a territorial expansion of Israel including parts of Jordan, Palestine, Lebanon, Syria, Iraq, and Egypt.

For many Jews, the term Eretz Israel (Land of Israel) symbolizes a larger geographical area than the current Israeli borders. Historically rooted in religious and cultural narratives, this concept includes territories such as Judea, Samaria, and areas seized after the 1948 war, as well as the Sinai Peninsula and the Golan Heights.

The notion of Greater Israel traces back to biblical times, when Jewish influence extended from Palestine to Syria and parts of the Euphrates.

Supporters of this idea claim it represents the fulfillment of promises made in ancient texts, asserting that all areas historically tied to the Israelites should be part of modern Israel.