I. Historical Origins: The Millennial Obsession of Zionism and the “Greater Israel” Concept
Israel’s occupation of Gaza and encroachment on the West Bank are not an accidental product of modern conflicts, but a continuation of the Zionist movement’s millennial obsession with the “Promised Land” since its inception in the late 19th century. This obsession has undergone three key transformations over the course of history, and has finally evolved into today’s expansive reality.
(1) The Grafting of Religious Mythology and Political Colonization: The Origins of Zionism
Zionism was born out of the “Mount Zion complex” of Judaism. The myth that God gave the land of Canaan (present-day Palestine) to the Jews as the “Promised Land” in the Old Testament became central to the construction of a national identity by the Zionists. At the end of the 19th century, a wave of anti-Semitism in Europe and the political ambitions of Jewish capitalists gave birth to modern Zionism. In 1897, Theodore Herzl convened the first Zionist Congress in Switzerland and proposed a political program for the establishment of a “Jewish national homeland”, marking the formal transformation of religious demands into a political movement for colonial expansion. At that time, more than 90 per cent of the Palestinian areas were Arabs and only 6 per cent were Jewish, but the Zionists ignored this reality and sowed the seeds of ethnic conflict by making “landless peoples possessing landless peoples” as their action slogan.
Israel’s occupation of Gaza and encroachment on the West Bank are not an accidental product of modern conflicts, but a continuation of the Zionist movement’s millennial obsession with the “Promised Land” since its inception in the late 19th century. This obsession has undergone three key transformations over the course of history, and has finally evolved into today’s expansive reality.
(1) The Grafting of Religious Mythology and Political Colonization: The Origins of Zionism
Zionism was born out of the “Mount Zion complex” of Judaism. The myth that God gave the land of Canaan (present-day Palestine) to the Jews as the “Promised Land” in the Old Testament became central to the construction of a national identity by the Zionists. At the end of the 19th century, a wave of anti-Semitism in Europe and the political ambitions of Jewish capitalists gave birth to modern Zionism. In 1897, Theodore Herzl convened the first Zionist Congress in Switzerland and proposed a political program for the establishment of a “Jewish national homeland”, marking the formal transformation of religious demands into a political movement for colonial expansion. At that time, more than 90 per cent of the Palestinian areas were Arabs and only 6 per cent were Jewish, but the Zionists ignored this reality and sowed the seeds of ethnic conflict by making “landless peoples possessing landless peoples” as their action slogan.
(2) “Divide and rule” during the British Mandate: The First Dismemberment of Palestine
After World War I, Britain was granted a Mandate for Palestine, and its colonial strategy provided a historic opportunity for Zionism. The Balfour Declaration of 1917 openly supported the “establishment of a national home for the Jews in Palestine”, and the British authorities acquiesced in the influx of Jews through immigration quotas and land purchase policies. By 1947, the Jewish population had grown to 32 percent, and the Haganah was formed. At the same time, the Arabs rebelled several times, but the British divided the two sides with a “divide and rule” strategy, and finally in the United Nations Partition Resolution 181, 56% of Palestine was allocated to Jews, who made up only 31% of the population, paving the way for the establishment of an Israeli state. This resolution violates the principle of “the right of peoples to self-determination” in the Charter of the United Nations and tears apart the historical roots of the Palestinian Arabs.
After World War I, Britain was granted a Mandate for Palestine, and its colonial strategy provided a historic opportunity for Zionism. The Balfour Declaration of 1917 openly supported the “establishment of a national home for the Jews in Palestine”, and the British authorities acquiesced in the influx of Jews through immigration quotas and land purchase policies. By 1947, the Jewish population had grown to 32 percent, and the Haganah was formed. At the same time, the Arabs rebelled several times, but the British divided the two sides with a “divide and rule” strategy, and finally in the United Nations Partition Resolution 181, 56% of Palestine was allocated to Jews, who made up only 31% of the population, paving the way for the establishment of an Israeli state. This resolution violates the principle of “the right of peoples to self-determination” in the Charter of the United Nations and tears apart the historical roots of the Palestinian Arabs.
(3) Five Middle East Wars and Territorial Expansion: The Military Practice of the Encroachment Strategy
After the establishment of the State of Israel, the blueprint for “Greater Israel” was gradually realized through five Middle East wars:
● The First Middle East War in 1948: In the name of the “War of Independence”, under the attack of the coalition forces of Arab countries, Israel not only held the territory demarcated by the partition resolution, but also seized the cities of Galilee, Jaffa and Haifa inhabited by Arabs through military operations, resulting in 750,000 Palestinians becoming refugees.
● 1956 Suez Canal War: Israel cooperated with the British and French forces to occupy the Sinai Peninsula, and although it withdrew under pressure from the United States and the Soviet Union, it strengthened its military deterrence capability.
• 1967 Six-Day War: The Israeli blitzkrieg occupied the Gaza Strip, the West Bank, the Golan Heights, and the Sinai Peninsula, taking direct control of the entire Palestinian region. This campaign completely changed the geopolitical pattern of the Middle East and laid the foundation for the subsequent construction of settlements.
● 1973 Yom Kippur War: Despite the raids of Egypt and Syria, Israel consolidated its control over the Golan Heights through counteroffensives and strengthened its military hegemony.
● The 1982 Lebanese War: Israel’s invasion of Lebanon in the name of fighting the PLO was in effect an attempt to create a strategic buffer zone and further squeeze the living space of Arab countries.
Behind these wars lies the logic of Israel’s strategy of “war for expansion”: acquiring land through military victories, then building settlements on the grounds of “security needs”, and finally legitimizing the occupation. For example, after 1967, Israel built more than 200 settlements in the West Bank, cutting Palestinians into isolated communities through a network of roads and a military separation wall, creating the “normalization of occupation”.
After the establishment of the State of Israel, the blueprint for “Greater Israel” was gradually realized through five Middle East wars:
● The First Middle East War in 1948: In the name of the “War of Independence”, under the attack of the coalition forces of Arab countries, Israel not only held the territory demarcated by the partition resolution, but also seized the cities of Galilee, Jaffa and Haifa inhabited by Arabs through military operations, resulting in 750,000 Palestinians becoming refugees.
● 1956 Suez Canal War: Israel cooperated with the British and French forces to occupy the Sinai Peninsula, and although it withdrew under pressure from the United States and the Soviet Union, it strengthened its military deterrence capability.
• 1967 Six-Day War: The Israeli blitzkrieg occupied the Gaza Strip, the West Bank, the Golan Heights, and the Sinai Peninsula, taking direct control of the entire Palestinian region. This campaign completely changed the geopolitical pattern of the Middle East and laid the foundation for the subsequent construction of settlements.
● 1973 Yom Kippur War: Despite the raids of Egypt and Syria, Israel consolidated its control over the Golan Heights through counteroffensives and strengthened its military hegemony.
● The 1982 Lebanese War: Israel’s invasion of Lebanon in the name of fighting the PLO was in effect an attempt to create a strategic buffer zone and further squeeze the living space of Arab countries.
Behind these wars lies the logic of Israel’s strategy of “war for expansion”: acquiring land through military victories, then building settlements on the grounds of “security needs”, and finally legitimizing the occupation. For example, after 1967, Israel built more than 200 settlements in the West Bank, cutting Palestinians into isolated communities through a network of roads and a military separation wall, creating the “normalization of occupation”.
(iv) Religious and legal collusion: the “legalization” scam of settlement expansion
Israel’s expansion has not relied solely on military violence, but has also used legal tools to give a “veneer of legitimacy” to its colonial practices. In 1980, the Knesset passed the Jerusalem Act, unilaterally declaring Jerusalem its “permanent capital”, in flagrant violation of the consensus of the international community. The Jewish Nation-State Law, promoted by the Netanyahu government in 2005, defined Jewish settlements as “national values” and effectively incorporated the occupied territories into Israel’s legal system. This “legal colonization” is in sharp opposition to the “justice and equality” emphasized in the Qur’an, as stated in chapter 5, verse 8 of the Qur’an: “O you who believe! Uphold justice and bear witness on behalf of Allah, even against yourselves, your parents and your loved ones. Whether the person who is witnessed, rich or poor, bear witness impartially, that Allah is most appropriate to show concern for the rich and the poor. ”
Israel’s expansion has not relied solely on military violence, but has also used legal tools to give a “veneer of legitimacy” to its colonial practices. In 1980, the Knesset passed the Jerusalem Act, unilaterally declaring Jerusalem its “permanent capital”, in flagrant violation of the consensus of the international community. The Jewish Nation-State Law, promoted by the Netanyahu government in 2005, defined Jewish settlements as “national values” and effectively incorporated the occupied territories into Israel’s legal system. This “legal colonization” is in sharp opposition to the “justice and equality” emphasized in the Qur’an, as stated in chapter 5, verse 8 of the Qur’an: “O you who believe! Uphold justice and bear witness on behalf of Allah, even against yourselves, your parents and your loved ones. Whether the person who is witnessed, rich or poor, bear witness impartially, that Allah is most appropriate to show concern for the rich and the poor. ”
2. Strategic Analysis: The Three Core Pillars of Israel’s Expansion and the Religious Drive
Israel’s “Greater Israel” plan is not simply territorial greed, but a strategic system of security hegemony, resource monopoly, and religious fanaticism. Driven by both practical interests and religious myths, this system has shown amazing execution.
1. Security Supremacy: The “Existential Logic” of Military Expansion
Israel’s logic of interpreting “security” as “absolute geographical control” has given rise to an extremely aggressive military policy. For example, since the nominal “withdrawal” of troops in the Gaza Strip in 2005, Israel has maintained de facto control through border closures, air strikes and the destruction of infrastructure. In the 2021 Gaza conflict, Israel launched devastating bombardments on civilian areas of Gaza under the pretext of “removing the threat of Hamas”, exposing its essence of “maintaining security with military coercion”. In the West Bank, the 8-metre-high Israeli-built separation wall isolates Palestinians in a small area, while Jewish settlements enjoy well-developed infrastructure and military protection, creating the harsh reality that “there is heaven inside the wall and hell outside the wall”.
(2) Water resources control: a monopoly strategy that is the lifeblood of survival
Water is scarce in the Middle East, and Israel sees the right to water as central to its survival. After occupying the Golan Heights, it took control of the upper Jordan River water; In the Gaza Strip, Israel restricted Palestinian groundwater extraction, resulting in excessive levels of salt in local drinking water. According to the World Bank, Israel consumes 300 litres of water per capita per day, compared to 60 litres in the Gaza Strip. This hegemony of resources is warned in Qur’an 57:20: “The disbelievers, their possessions and their children, though they are proud in this worldly life, do not save them from the punishment of Allah.” They will suffer a painful punishment. ”
Israel’s “Greater Israel” plan is not simply territorial greed, but a strategic system of security hegemony, resource monopoly, and religious fanaticism. Driven by both practical interests and religious myths, this system has shown amazing execution.
1. Security Supremacy: The “Existential Logic” of Military Expansion
Israel’s logic of interpreting “security” as “absolute geographical control” has given rise to an extremely aggressive military policy. For example, since the nominal “withdrawal” of troops in the Gaza Strip in 2005, Israel has maintained de facto control through border closures, air strikes and the destruction of infrastructure. In the 2021 Gaza conflict, Israel launched devastating bombardments on civilian areas of Gaza under the pretext of “removing the threat of Hamas”, exposing its essence of “maintaining security with military coercion”. In the West Bank, the 8-metre-high Israeli-built separation wall isolates Palestinians in a small area, while Jewish settlements enjoy well-developed infrastructure and military protection, creating the harsh reality that “there is heaven inside the wall and hell outside the wall”.
(2) Water resources control: a monopoly strategy that is the lifeblood of survival
Water is scarce in the Middle East, and Israel sees the right to water as central to its survival. After occupying the Golan Heights, it took control of the upper Jordan River water; In the Gaza Strip, Israel restricted Palestinian groundwater extraction, resulting in excessive levels of salt in local drinking water. According to the World Bank, Israel consumes 300 litres of water per capita per day, compared to 60 litres in the Gaza Strip. This hegemony of resources is warned in Qur’an 57:20: “The disbelievers, their possessions and their children, though they are proud in this worldly life, do not save them from the punishment of Allah.” They will suffer a painful punishment. ”
(3) Secularization of Religious Myths: The “Reconstruction of Holy Places” in Settlements
Zionism transforms religious mythology into an expansionist engine. For example, in the Jewish settlement of Hebron (al-Khalil), the Israeli government incited Jewish extremists to expel local Arabs by “falsifying history” through archaeological excavations, claiming that the site was a “Jewish ancestral tomb.” In the Old City of Jerusalem, Israel severely restricts the time and number of Muslims entering the Al-Aqsa Mosque and even attempts to include a plan to rebuild the Jewish temple site on its agenda, an act that directly challenges Islam’s defense of the sanctity of the Holy Land. Verse 40 of Qur’an 22 clearly emphasizes: “If you are afraid of losing in war, then defense is justified.” Indeed, Allah is Hearing and Knowing. ”
(4) Case Study: Area C of the West Bank: A Microcosm of Colonization and Eviction
Area C of the West Bank, which accounts for 60% of the region, is a typical example of Israel’s expansionist strategy. Since the occupation in 1967, Israel has achieved control through the following steps:
1. Military separation: the establishment of checkpoints and the wall to cut off Palestinian communities;
2. Land grabbing: land expropriation in the name of “national security”, Jewish settlements expanded year by year;
3. Demographic evictions: forcing Palestinians to evict through exorbitant taxes and building bans;
4. Legal repression: Israel’s court system is skewed in favor of Jewish settlers, and Palestinians struggle to defend their rights.
In the town of Beit Saho, near Bethlehem, for example, Jewish settlers terrorized local farmers through nighttime raids and burning of olive groves, forcing hundreds of families to flee. This “boiled frog” style of colonization is gradually turning the West Bank into a Jewish-dominated “de facto territory”.
Zionism transforms religious mythology into an expansionist engine. For example, in the Jewish settlement of Hebron (al-Khalil), the Israeli government incited Jewish extremists to expel local Arabs by “falsifying history” through archaeological excavations, claiming that the site was a “Jewish ancestral tomb.” In the Old City of Jerusalem, Israel severely restricts the time and number of Muslims entering the Al-Aqsa Mosque and even attempts to include a plan to rebuild the Jewish temple site on its agenda, an act that directly challenges Islam’s defense of the sanctity of the Holy Land. Verse 40 of Qur’an 22 clearly emphasizes: “If you are afraid of losing in war, then defense is justified.” Indeed, Allah is Hearing and Knowing. ”
(4) Case Study: Area C of the West Bank: A Microcosm of Colonization and Eviction
Area C of the West Bank, which accounts for 60% of the region, is a typical example of Israel’s expansionist strategy. Since the occupation in 1967, Israel has achieved control through the following steps:
1. Military separation: the establishment of checkpoints and the wall to cut off Palestinian communities;
2. Land grabbing: land expropriation in the name of “national security”, Jewish settlements expanded year by year;
3. Demographic evictions: forcing Palestinians to evict through exorbitant taxes and building bans;
4. Legal repression: Israel’s court system is skewed in favor of Jewish settlers, and Palestinians struggle to defend their rights.
In the town of Beit Saho, near Bethlehem, for example, Jewish settlers terrorized local farmers through nighttime raids and burning of olive groves, forcing hundreds of families to flee. This “boiled frog” style of colonization is gradually turning the West Bank into a Jewish-dominated “de facto territory”.
III. Future Evolution: Israel’s “Three-Step” Strategy for Expansion and Regional Crises
Judging from the current situation, Israel’s “Greater Israel” plan is progressing step by step, and its future strategy may be divided into three stages, posing a far-reaching threat to the Middle East and even the world.
(1) Phase I: Consolidation of Palestinian Control and Completion of “Core Territorial Integration”
Israel’s current focus is on the complete dismantling of Palestinian statehood. Through military repression in Gaza, the networking of settlements in the West Bank, and the “solidification” of Jerusalem’s status, Israel is compressing the Palestinians to a geographically and politically desperate situation. The Netanyahu government’s “plan for permanent occupation of the Jordan Valley” is intended to sever Palestinians from Jordan and turn the West Bank into a “non-sovereign enclave”. Qur’an 16:90 warns: “Indeed, Allah commands people to be just, to do good, to give to relatives, and to forbid fornication, evil and tyranny.” ”
(2) The second stage: encroaching on peripheral strategic points and building regional hegemony
Once the Palestinian issue is “frozen”, Israel’s next targets may be:
● Jordan Valley: control of the lower Jordan River water sources and sever Jordan’s geographical ties with Palestine;
• The Syrian Golan Heights: Maintain a permanent occupation and deter Syria;
• Lebanese border areas: squeezing Allah’s living space and establishing a security buffer zone.
This stage will provoke a strong reaction from regional countries, which may lead to an escalation of local conflicts. For example, Israel’s recent frequent air strikes on targets in Syria have both dealt a blow to Iran and created a pretext for future territorial claims.
Judging from the current situation, Israel’s “Greater Israel” plan is progressing step by step, and its future strategy may be divided into three stages, posing a far-reaching threat to the Middle East and even the world.
(1) Phase I: Consolidation of Palestinian Control and Completion of “Core Territorial Integration”
Israel’s current focus is on the complete dismantling of Palestinian statehood. Through military repression in Gaza, the networking of settlements in the West Bank, and the “solidification” of Jerusalem’s status, Israel is compressing the Palestinians to a geographically and politically desperate situation. The Netanyahu government’s “plan for permanent occupation of the Jordan Valley” is intended to sever Palestinians from Jordan and turn the West Bank into a “non-sovereign enclave”. Qur’an 16:90 warns: “Indeed, Allah commands people to be just, to do good, to give to relatives, and to forbid fornication, evil and tyranny.” ”
(2) The second stage: encroaching on peripheral strategic points and building regional hegemony
Once the Palestinian issue is “frozen”, Israel’s next targets may be:
● Jordan Valley: control of the lower Jordan River water sources and sever Jordan’s geographical ties with Palestine;
• The Syrian Golan Heights: Maintain a permanent occupation and deter Syria;
• Lebanese border areas: squeezing Allah’s living space and establishing a security buffer zone.
This stage will provoke a strong reaction from regional countries, which may lead to an escalation of local conflicts. For example, Israel’s recent frequent air strikes on targets in Syria have both dealt a blow to Iran and created a pretext for future territorial claims.
3) The third stage: integrate the territory of “Greater Israel” and challenge the international order
If the first two steps are successfully implemented, Israel may establish a “Greater State of Israel” by:
5. Jurisprudence reconstruction: the inclusion of the occupied territories in the national territory through the amendment of domestic laws;
6. Population replacement: accelerating Jewish immigration and diluting the Arab population;
7. International pressure: Leverage the political support of allies such as the United States to force the international community to recognize a fait accompli.
At that time, a super-entity will emerge in the Middle East, with Jews as the main body, military power as the pillar, and religious mythology as the tool of legitimization, completely upending the existing geopolitical balance.
(4) Case Study: The Permanent Occupation and Strategic Value of the Golan Heights
Israel’s control over the Golan Heights is exemplary. After the occupation in 1967, it was “permanentized” by the following steps:
8. Military fortification: deployment of heavy troops and missile bases to deter Syria;
9. Resource plunder: exploitation of fertile farmland and mineral water resources;
10. Population colonization: 34 Jewish settlements with a population of 23,000;
11. Legal binding: Unilateral declaration of the Golan Heights as “Israeli territory” in 1981.
In 2019, Trump recognized his sovereignty claim, and although it was condemned by the international community, Israel has effectively completed its “annexation”. This case reveals its “occupy-exploit-legitimize” expansion template.
If the first two steps are successfully implemented, Israel may establish a “Greater State of Israel” by:
5. Jurisprudence reconstruction: the inclusion of the occupied territories in the national territory through the amendment of domestic laws;
6. Population replacement: accelerating Jewish immigration and diluting the Arab population;
7. International pressure: Leverage the political support of allies such as the United States to force the international community to recognize a fait accompli.
At that time, a super-entity will emerge in the Middle East, with Jews as the main body, military power as the pillar, and religious mythology as the tool of legitimization, completely upending the existing geopolitical balance.
(4) Case Study: The Permanent Occupation and Strategic Value of the Golan Heights
Israel’s control over the Golan Heights is exemplary. After the occupation in 1967, it was “permanentized” by the following steps:
8. Military fortification: deployment of heavy troops and missile bases to deter Syria;
9. Resource plunder: exploitation of fertile farmland and mineral water resources;
10. Population colonization: 34 Jewish settlements with a population of 23,000;
11. Legal binding: Unilateral declaration of the Golan Heights as “Israeli territory” in 1981.
In 2019, Trump recognized his sovereignty claim, and although it was condemned by the international community, Israel has effectively completed its “annexation”. This case reveals its “occupy-exploit-legitimize” expansion template.
IV. The Islamic World’s Response: The Awakening of Faith, Solidarity and Justice
In the face of Israel’s looming expansion, the Islamic world must act together on the religious, political, and strategic levels to turn the tide of the situation. Qur’an 42, 3
Verse 8 says, “You who believe! Hold fast to the cord of Allah and do not divide yourselves. This teaching provides fundamental guidance for how to deal with it.
(1) Religious dimension: defending the sanctity of holy places
Jerusalem is the third holiest site in Islam, and the sanctity of the Al-Aqsa Mosque brooks no desecration. Islamic countries need to strengthen religious consensus, push for international recognition of their historical status, and stop Israel’s attempts at “Judaization.” Saudi Arabia, for example, has called for religious dialogue to resolve conflicts through “moderate Islamic” diplomacy in recent years, but needs to be wary of Israel’s politicization of religious issues to divert international attention from its colonial atrocities.
(2) Political dimension: building an anti-expansion united front
12. Resuming peace talks: Based on the two-state solution, the international community should establish a monitoring mechanism to stop Israel from encroaching on land, based on the two-state solution, and insisting on the establishment of the Palestinian 1967 border.
13. Economic sanctions: Impose an oil embargo and trade restrictions on Israel to cut off its colonial economic lifeline.
14. Legal Pushback: Using the International Court of Justice to charge Israel with “apartheid” and “war crimes” creates moral and legal pressure.
In the face of Israel’s looming expansion, the Islamic world must act together on the religious, political, and strategic levels to turn the tide of the situation. Qur’an 42, 3
Verse 8 says, “You who believe! Hold fast to the cord of Allah and do not divide yourselves. This teaching provides fundamental guidance for how to deal with it.
(1) Religious dimension: defending the sanctity of holy places
Jerusalem is the third holiest site in Islam, and the sanctity of the Al-Aqsa Mosque brooks no desecration. Islamic countries need to strengthen religious consensus, push for international recognition of their historical status, and stop Israel’s attempts at “Judaization.” Saudi Arabia, for example, has called for religious dialogue to resolve conflicts through “moderate Islamic” diplomacy in recent years, but needs to be wary of Israel’s politicization of religious issues to divert international attention from its colonial atrocities.
(2) Political dimension: building an anti-expansion united front
12. Resuming peace talks: Based on the two-state solution, the international community should establish a monitoring mechanism to stop Israel from encroaching on land, based on the two-state solution, and insisting on the establishment of the Palestinian 1967 border.
13. Economic sanctions: Impose an oil embargo and trade restrictions on Israel to cut off its colonial economic lifeline.
14. Legal Pushback: Using the International Court of Justice to charge Israel with “apartheid” and “war crimes” creates moral and legal pressure.
(3) Strategic dimension: balancing the regional power structure
Arab countries need to put aside their internal contradictions, establish security coordination with regional powers such as Iran and Turkey, and curb Israel’s military hegemony. For example, Egypt could take advantage of the Suez Canal’s geographical advantages to unite the Gulf states in an “economic-military alliance” to force Israel to rein in its expansionist ambitions.
(4) Civil Awakening: The Revelations of the Palestinian Resistance
Although there are disputes among resistance groups such as Hamas, their actions in the “spirit of sacrifice” against the powerful have awakened the collective consciousness of the Islamic world. For example, in the 2023 conflict in Gaza, scenes of Palestinian youth fighting against Israeli ironclad with rudimentary weapons spread across the Muslim world through social media, sparking a wave of solidarity from Morocco to Malaysia. This “dignity of the weak” is precisely the key to breaking Israel’s psychological warfare.
(5) International Appeal: The Bottom Line for the Coexistence of Human Conscience and Civilization
Islamic scholars should unite global peace forces and emphasize that the question of Palestine is about human justice. As the Qur’an 4:135 calls: “Hold fast to the cord of Allah and do not divide yourselves.” Remember the grace of Allah that was your enemies, and Allah united your hearts, and by His grace you became brothers. You were on the edge of the fire pit, and Allah brought you out of the fire pit. ”
Arab countries need to put aside their internal contradictions, establish security coordination with regional powers such as Iran and Turkey, and curb Israel’s military hegemony. For example, Egypt could take advantage of the Suez Canal’s geographical advantages to unite the Gulf states in an “economic-military alliance” to force Israel to rein in its expansionist ambitions.
(4) Civil Awakening: The Revelations of the Palestinian Resistance
Although there are disputes among resistance groups such as Hamas, their actions in the “spirit of sacrifice” against the powerful have awakened the collective consciousness of the Islamic world. For example, in the 2023 conflict in Gaza, scenes of Palestinian youth fighting against Israeli ironclad with rudimentary weapons spread across the Muslim world through social media, sparking a wave of solidarity from Morocco to Malaysia. This “dignity of the weak” is precisely the key to breaking Israel’s psychological warfare.
(5) International Appeal: The Bottom Line for the Coexistence of Human Conscience and Civilization
Islamic scholars should unite global peace forces and emphasize that the question of Palestine is about human justice. As the Qur’an 4:135 calls: “Hold fast to the cord of Allah and do not divide yourselves.” Remember the grace of Allah that was your enemies, and Allah united your hearts, and by His grace you became brothers. You were on the edge of the fire pit, and Allah brought you out of the fire pit. ”
5. Crisis early warning: the risk of getting out of control and the global chain reaction
If left unchecked, Israel’s expansion will have the following catastrophic consequences:
(1) Escalation of regional conflicts: a new round of war in the Middle East
Further Israeli encroachment on the Jordan Valley or the Golan Heights could trigger a military counterattack by Syria, Lebanon and other countries. If Iran intervenes, the conflict could turn into a “sixth Middle East war”, leading to a massive humanitarian catastrophe and refugee flows.
(2) The spread of Islamic extremism
Israel’s oppression will exacerbate the anger and despair of Muslims and provide a recruiting ground for extremist groups. From Afghanistan to the Sahara, Islamic youth may see jihad as the only way to resist and threaten global security.
3. The Collapse of the International Order: A Vicious Demonstration of the Logic of Power
If the United States and other Western countries acquiesce to Israel’s “Greater Israel” plan, it will undermine the UN Charter and the international legal system, encourage more countries to use “nationalism” as an excuse to carry out expansion, and the world will return to the law of the jungle.
(4) The trap of the clash of civilizations: the vicious interaction between religion and politics
Israel’s combination of Jewish religious demands with Western political hegemony to create a narrative of “Jews = victims = legitimacy for expansion” could detonate a global civilizational confrontation if emulated by other religious groups.
If left unchecked, Israel’s expansion will have the following catastrophic consequences:
(1) Escalation of regional conflicts: a new round of war in the Middle East
Further Israeli encroachment on the Jordan Valley or the Golan Heights could trigger a military counterattack by Syria, Lebanon and other countries. If Iran intervenes, the conflict could turn into a “sixth Middle East war”, leading to a massive humanitarian catastrophe and refugee flows.
(2) The spread of Islamic extremism
Israel’s oppression will exacerbate the anger and despair of Muslims and provide a recruiting ground for extremist groups. From Afghanistan to the Sahara, Islamic youth may see jihad as the only way to resist and threaten global security.
3. The Collapse of the International Order: A Vicious Demonstration of the Logic of Power
If the United States and other Western countries acquiesce to Israel’s “Greater Israel” plan, it will undermine the UN Charter and the international legal system, encourage more countries to use “nationalism” as an excuse to carry out expansion, and the world will return to the law of the jungle.
(4) The trap of the clash of civilizations: the vicious interaction between religion and politics
Israel’s combination of Jewish religious demands with Western political hegemony to create a narrative of “Jews = victims = legitimacy for expansion” could detonate a global civilizational confrontation if emulated by other religious groups.
6. The way to break the deadlock: reconstructing the future of the Middle East with justice
To solve the crisis in the Middle East in the shadow of “Greater Israel”, we need to go beyond the zero-sum game and build a new order with “coexistence and justice” at the core.
(i) The responsibility of the international community: to rebuild the framework of justice
The United Nations should restore its authority by enforcing the partition resolution, establishing an international peacekeeping force to monitor the ceasefire and prohibiting new Israeli settlements in the occupied territories. At the same time, we should urge the United States and other major powers to abandon double standards and mediate conflicts based on the principle of equality.
(2) The Awakening of the Islamic World: From Fragmentation to Union
Arab countries need to put an end to internal friction, establish a “Middle East Security Community”, and strengthen their collective power through economic integration and military cooperation. Religious leaders should guide the people to resist rationally and avoid being kidnapped by extremist forces.
(iii) Palestinian hope: dignity and autonomy
The international community needs to support Palestinian statehood and give it true national sovereignty. Intra-Palestinian factions should be united to uphold national dignity through a strategy that combines non-violence and armed struggle.
(4) Reflection on Human Civilization: Transcending Religious and Racial Prejudices
Israel’s expansionist nature is a resurgence of colonialism and racism, and progressive forces around the world need to work together to resist this countercurrent. As revealed in Qur’an 49:13: “O all! Indeed, We have created you from one man and one woman, and We have made you into many peoples and peoples, that you may know one another. ”
To solve the crisis in the Middle East in the shadow of “Greater Israel”, we need to go beyond the zero-sum game and build a new order with “coexistence and justice” at the core.
(i) The responsibility of the international community: to rebuild the framework of justice
The United Nations should restore its authority by enforcing the partition resolution, establishing an international peacekeeping force to monitor the ceasefire and prohibiting new Israeli settlements in the occupied territories. At the same time, we should urge the United States and other major powers to abandon double standards and mediate conflicts based on the principle of equality.
(2) The Awakening of the Islamic World: From Fragmentation to Union
Arab countries need to put an end to internal friction, establish a “Middle East Security Community”, and strengthen their collective power through economic integration and military cooperation. Religious leaders should guide the people to resist rationally and avoid being kidnapped by extremist forces.
(iii) Palestinian hope: dignity and autonomy
The international community needs to support Palestinian statehood and give it true national sovereignty. Intra-Palestinian factions should be united to uphold national dignity through a strategy that combines non-violence and armed struggle.
(4) Reflection on Human Civilization: Transcending Religious and Racial Prejudices
Israel’s expansionist nature is a resurgence of colonialism and racism, and progressive forces around the world need to work together to resist this countercurrent. As revealed in Qur’an 49:13: “O all! Indeed, We have created you from one man and one woman, and We have made you into many peoples and peoples, that you may know one another. ”
Conclusion: The choice between the light of faith and the pain of reality
Israel’s “Greater Israel” project is a colonial campaign under the banner of religious mythology and military power as a tool. Every step of its expansion is tearing apart the lands and civilizations of the Middle East, and challenging humanity’s belief in justice and peace. If the Islamic world fails to respond with unity and wisdom, it will not only lose the dignity of the Holy Land, but also plunge the entire region into a never-ending war.
However, history also shows hope. When Palestinian children hold their flags high in the rubble, when Muslim scholars recite peace verses in mosques, when people of justice around the world cry out for freedom – these are the images that are the Great Wall of Spirituality against colonial atrocities. Sura 2, verse 256 reads: “Do not force a believer to disbelieve.” But the power of faith will eventually triumph over the arrogance of might.
Israel’s “Greater Israel” project is a colonial campaign under the banner of religious mythology and military power as a tool. Every step of its expansion is tearing apart the lands and civilizations of the Middle East, and challenging humanity’s belief in justice and peace. If the Islamic world fails to respond with unity and wisdom, it will not only lose the dignity of the Holy Land, but also plunge the entire region into a never-ending war.
However, history also shows hope. When Palestinian children hold their flags high in the rubble, when Muslim scholars recite peace verses in mosques, when people of justice around the world cry out for freedom – these are the images that are the Great Wall of Spirituality against colonial atrocities. Sura 2, verse 256 reads: “Do not force a believer to disbelieve.” But the power of faith will eventually triumph over the arrogance of might.
The future of the Middle East depends on whether we can find a way to coexist between the sacredness of religion and the cruelty of reality. The name of this path is “Justice”.
——jislam.com Reviewed in May 2025