THE idea that the present state of Israel wants to morph into ‘Greater Israel’ — a quasi-mythical entity lost in the mists of time — is no longer the purview of conspiracy theorists. The country’s prime minister has spoken of his commitment to achieving this goal, while most recently, the American ambassador to Israel also reaffirmed his belief that Tel Aviv has a right to establish a state based on biblical geography.

Talking to American conservative journalist Tucker Carlson last week, Mike Huckabee said “it would be fine” if Israel took all the land — corresponding to the supposed biblical borders — from the Nile to the Euphrates. This would mean devouring all of occupied Palestine while also occupying Syria, Lebanon, Jordan, Iraq and Saudi Arabia. In the same interview, he said that the occupied West Bank’s Area C “is Israel”, contradicting the global consensus that it is Palestinian territory. But such outbursts are not unexpected from the ambassador, who is an ordained Evangelical minister and a rabid Christian Zionist.

However, it is worrying that an official representative of the US is making such fanatical statements. Mr Huckabee later said it was a “hyperbolic statement”, but the damage has been done, with several Arab and Muslim states expressing outrage at the idea of giving up more of their land to the Zionists. American diplomats have reportedly made calls to assuage Muslim anger.

Whether or not the ambassador’s remarks were hyperbolic or reflected the new bitter truth, it is a fact that on the ground, Tel Aviv is doing everything in its power to make ‘Greater Israel’ a reality. This includes plans for the permanent colonisation of Gaza and the West Bank, while Israel has also expanded its occupation of Syrian and Lebanese territory. Therefore, ‘Greater Israel’ is on its way to becoming a self-fulfilling prophesy.

Sadly, the Muslim world is too divided and weak to resist such dangerous adventurism by the Zionists, while powerful and fanatical lobbies within the US are ready to bankroll and politically support this perilous scheme. Making angry noises alone will not do. Muslim and Arab states need to take firm steps not only to end the occupation of Palestine, but also to make Israel vacate the land it has occupied in Syria and Lebanon. Unrestrained, Israel may indeed achieve its ‘promised land’.

Published in Dawn, February 25th, 2026