DaysofPal- A controversial map of “historical Israel,” which includes parts of the occupied Palestinian territories along with areas from Lebanon, Syria, and Jordan, has sparked concerns over Zionist, biblical-inspired schemes aimed at seizing more Arab lands with Western support.
These efforts are seen as part of an attempt to realize the long-standing Zionist dream of establishing a “state from the river to the sea.”
The map, recently published by the “Israel in Arabic” page affiliated with Israel’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, was accompanied by the caption: “Did you know that the Kingdom of Israel existed 3,000 years ago?”
Historical Falsification for Expansionist Goals
Khaleel Tufakji, a cartography expert from the Arab Studies Society in Jerusalem, stated that the Israeli map represents “an attempt to falsify history in favor of the Israelis” and to advance their expansionist ambitions in the Arab region.
Tufakji explained that Israel is working to implement parts of this map through its control of Mount Hermon summits, its encroachment into the Syrian Quneitra Governorate, and its expansion in areas such as Judea, Beersheba, and up to the Gilead Mountains.
Tufakji pointed out that Israel has already implemented portions of this map in practice, as seen in the Wadi Araba Agreement with Jordan, which imposed restrictions on Jordanian aviation in the Jordan Valley region.
Tufakji added that Israel has exploited international circumstances and European and American backing, particularly with the arrival of a pro-Israel U.S. administration, to pursue its expansionist ambitions under the guise of religious myths.
He emphasized that Israel is serious about altering the region’s geography, citing its imposition of sovereignty over parts of the occupied West Bank and recent developments in southern Lebanon, where a Torah researcher was killed while searching for Jewish artifacts.
Tufakji predicted that the region could see a new map emerge. “We don’t yet know its exact nature, but the indicators suggest that Israel will become the dominant force, backed by the U.S.”
Extreme Colonial Trends
For his part, Dr. Ahmed Awad, a political affairs expert, noted that the biblical map reflects Israel’s new colonial trends, which have deliberately avoided clearly defining its borders.
Awad explained to Palestine Online that the current political elite in Israel, particularly in the right-wing government, is dominated by extremist religious ideologies that embrace the idea of a “Greater Israel from the Euphrates to the Nile.”
He added that the shifts in Israel’s stance reflect the dominance of extremist thinking, which lacks restraints and leans towards aggression and violence. “Israel is working to reshape the Middle East, believing that the historical moment is ripe for achieving this,” Awad concluded.
Despite the extreme statements from some Israeli officials, such as Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, who pledged to annex the West Bank by 2025, Dr. Ahmed Awad believes that Israel cannot drastically alter borders without engaging in new wars.
Awad explained that Israel may settle for annexing parts of the West Bank and weakening the Palestinian Authority without completely dismantling it. The PA remains a preferred option for American, European, and Arab actors.
Awad emphasized that Israel cannot unilaterally end the two-state solution or dismantle the Palestinian Authority without international support.
Meanwhile, Israel’s official public broadcaster revealed that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu plans to include the annexation of the West Bank on his government’s agenda, particularly after U.S. President Joe Biden assumed office.
This comes amid calls from far-right groups to establish a “Greater Israel” spanning from the Nile to the Euphrates, based on biblical claims.
These aspirations heighten Palestinian and Arab concerns over potential new expansionist plans that could reshape the region’s map.
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