Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich recently stated in a documentary that Israel should expand its territory to include parts of Syria, Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, and Saudi Arabia.
His comments, made in the film Israel: Extremists in Power by Arte Reportage, reflect a maximalist Zionist vision that he claims is openly discussed in Israeli society.
Smotrich, who also leads the Religious Zionism party, elaborated on his aspirations to not only control all of occupied Palestine up to the Jordan River but also extend Israeli authority over Damascus and other areas in neighbouring Arab countries.
When questioned about the expansion of Israel’s borders, Smotrich affirmed his belief that the Jewish state should grow, albeit gradually, to fulfill the ambitions of religious leaders who once envisioned Jerusalem extending as far as the Syrian capital. He underscored his goal of establishing a nation governed according to Jewish values, adding that this vision resonates within public discourse in Israel.
Currently, Israel controls land from the Mediterranean Sea to the Jordan River, including the Occupied West Bank, where illegal Jewish settlements have been built since 1967.
The expansionist rhetoric comes amid increasing military action in Gaza, where Israeli politicians, soldiers, and media figures have called for the destruction of Gaza and the expulsion of its 2.3 million Palestinian residents.
In more than a year, Israel has killed more than 42,000 Palestinians in the genocide that started in October last year.
