UAE, Saudi join Arab states to condemn Netanyahu’s ‘Greater Israel’ remarks

The United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia and several Arab nations have strongly condemned Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s recent comments expressing support for a so-called “Greater Israel”. They described the remarks as a provocative violation of international law and a direct threat to regional stability.

In an interview with i24 News earlier this week, Netanyahu said he was “very attached” to the vision of a “Greater Israel”, a term widely understood to include East Jerusalem, the West Bank, Gaza, the Sinai Peninsula, the Golan Heights and parts of neighbouring Arab states.

United Arab Nations

The UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs said it “categorically rejects” such statements. It called them a blatant breach of the UN Charter and an attack on the sovereignty of Arab countries. The ministry urged an immediate halt to “incendiary statements and actions” by extremists in the Israeli government. It also demanded an end to all settlement and expansionist plans that threaten peace and coexistence in the region.

Saudi and Regional Responses

Saudi Arabia’s Foreign Ministry rejected the “settlement and expansionist ideas and projects” promoted by Israeli authorities. It stressed the Palestinian people’s historical and legal right to establish an independent state on their land. The Kingdom warned the international community against Israel’s “flagrant violations” that threaten regional and global peace.

The Palestinian Authority called Netanyahu’s remarks a “dangerous provocation” and a dismissal of Palestinian rights. It restated its commitment to a state along the 1967 borders with East Jerusalem as its capital.

Qatar said the comments reflected “arrogance” and infringed on the sovereignty of states. Egypt said the rhetoric contradicted peace efforts and urged a return to negotiations and an end to the Gaza war. Jordan described the statements as a “dangerous escalation,” while Yemen reaffirmed its support for Palestinian statehood and called on the UN Security Council to hold Israeli leaders accountable.

Arab Organisations Respond

GCC Secretary-General Jasem Albudaiwi said the remarks violated the UN Charter and posed a direct threat to Arab unity and global stability. He urged the international community to confront such declarations.

The Arab League condemned the comments “in the strongest terms", describing them as rooted in “colonial delusions” and a threat to collective Arab security. It called on the UN Security Council to take action.

The condemnations came as the Israeli military announced it had approved the framework for a new offensive in Gaza. The plan follows the security cabinet’s call to capture the territory’s largest city. Israel’s 22-month war on Gaza has killed more than 61,000 people and created severe humanitarian conditions.