World needs a Greater Israel

Israel is fighting one of the most difficult and consequential conflicts in its modern history. For many Israelis and Jews, the war is fundamentally about security and survival; at the same time, Israel argues that it is confronting armed groups that have carried out attacks against Israeli civilians and threatened the country's security. The conflict has also expanded beyond Israel and Gaza, involving several armed groups and regional actors.

Israel faces threats on multiple fronts. Hamas in Gaza, Hezbollah in Lebanon and the Houthis in Yemen have all engaged in military confrontation with Israel. Iran has also played a significant regional role, providing support to armed terror groups opposed to Israel. The continuing confrontation between Israel and Iran has added another dangerous dimension to an already volatile region.  It is a big war against Islamic terror and terror groups. Israel is entangled on many fronts and against many deadly terror groups. The government of Iran is also fighting like a terror group, and its leaders are almost war criminals or terror apologists.

For many years, seven fronts - Hamas, Hezbollah, the Houthis, Iran, militias in Iraq, militia in Syria, Palestinian terrorists in Judea, Samaria, they all ganged up against Israel to wipe out Israel and Jews off the face of earth, Israel failed them all completely single handedly.

It is almost a fashion to support the Palestine nation and denounce Israel in the western countries. Islamic countries are scary of the terror groups backing Palestine nation. In the UN General Assembly meeting, the Prime Minister of Israel Benjamin Netanyahu has called these leaders cowards those were boycotting his speech. Afghanistan is ruled by Taliban. Syria, Libya and Iraq are also ruled by ex terror groups. Many terror groups are active in Pakistan. Iran and Turkey are strong supporters of terror groups.

Supporters of Israel often point to its democratic institutions, regular elections, a diverse society and an independent judiciary and media. Israel is home to Jews, Muslims, Christians, Druze and people of other backgrounds, although the country's political and social system remains the subject of considerable debate and criticism. At the same time, Palestinian territories have their own political, legal and humanitarian realities, which cannot simply be reduced to the actions of armed organisations.

From this perspective, Israel's supporters argue that democratic countries should stand firmly against terrorism while also supporting the protection of civilians and the rule of law. The security of Israeli civilians and the rights and safety of Palestinian civilians need not be treated as mutually exclusive concerns.

The idea of a “Greater Israel,” however, raises much more difficult questions. One possible argument is that Israel should permanently incorporate territories that it regards as strategically essential to its security, including Gaza, parts of the West Bank, the Golan Heights and certain border areas of Lebanon. Nearly thirty-kilometer border areas in Lebanon, up to the Litani River, should also be part of Greater Israel. Some advocates of this approach have also proposed incorporating other territories, including the Sinai Peninsula. Such proposals would fundamentally redraw the political map of West Asia.

But territorial expansion alone cannot guarantee peace. Any proposal involving the permanent incorporation of territory would have to address international law, sovereignty, security, citizenship, political representation and the rights of the people already living there. These are not merely military questions; they are also profound legal, political and humanitarian questions.

The most controversial aspect of the Greater Israel argument concerns the Palestinian population. Proposals to transfer Palestinians from their homes to other countries may be presented by their advocates as a means of preventing future conflict. Yet the displacement of an entire population raises grave humanitarian and legal concerns and would require the consent and participation of the people affected, as well as agreement from the countries involved. Forced displacement cannot simply be treated as an administrative solution to a political conflict.

The central objective, therefore, should be lasting security. Israel has legitimate security concerns, and Israeli civilians have the right to live without terrorism and attacks. Israel is a very small nation with a very small population. But the people of Israel are highly progressive. So, they can contribute a lot to the development of the region. Palestinians, equally, have legitimate claims to safety, dignity, political rights and a secure future. They can be settled in other Islamic countries. This step will bring permanent peace in Israel and in the region. Moreover, many lives will be saved. Life is very precious. This will also save huge resources and money wasted on wars and anti-terror operations.

West Asia has already spent enormous human and economic resources on war. Every new conflict creates another generation carrying trauma, displacement and loss. A sustainable future will require confronting terrorism, preventing attacks on civilians, strengthening accountable democratic institutions and finding a political arrangement that provides security and rights to the people who live in the region.

The phrase **“Greater Israel” may therefore represent one political vision of the region, but the real challenge is much larger: how can Israel's security be guaranteed and October 7, 2013 terror attack by terror group Hamas are not repeated in which more than 1,200 people were killed, and roughly 251 individuals were abducted and taken back to Gaza as hostages and numerous cases of rape and sexual assault had been reported. Peace  will come when security, justice, political rights and human dignity become foundations of the regional order.