Netanyahu says he feels strong connection to “vision of Greater Israel”

In a recent interview with ‘Israeli’ broadcaster i24NEWS, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated he is on a "historic and spiritual mission" for the Jewish people and feels a strong connection to the "vision of Greater Israel".

The interview, conducted on Tuesday, occurred as his government was preparing to expand its military operations into the remaining parts of Gaza.

During the exchange, interviewer Sharon Gal, a former right-wing member of Knesset, presented Netanyahu with an amulet showing "Greater Israel".

When asked if he felt a connection to the vision, Netanyahu replied, "Very much," and described his mission as one of generations.

The concept of "Greater Israel" (Eretz Yisrael HaShlema) refers to the historic or desired borders of ‘Israel’. While biblical definitions vary, the term is now commonly used by ‘Israelis’ to refer to the territory of the ‘Israel’ along with the West Bank and Gaza Strip.

This ideology has been a foundational tenet of Netanyahu's Likud party, which traces its roots to Revisionist Zionism and its founder, Ze'ev Jabotinsky.

Netanyahu has consistently opposed the creation of a Palestinian state, a stance he has reiterated publicly.

Critics argue that his government’s settlement expansion policy is the physical embodiment of the "Greater Israel" vision, creating "facts on the ground" that make a viable Palestinian state impossible.

The ongoing war in Gaza is viewed by some as an accelerated attempt to implement this vision, with critics claiming the government's true goal is "maximum land, and minimum Arabs".