In a firm condemnation reflecting a unified Arab stance, both Egypt and Saudi Arabia rejected Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s statements about the “Greater Israel vision,” describing them as “illusions.” These remarks, in which Netanyahu hinted at expanding the occupation, were met with outright rejection from Cairo and Riyadh, which affirmed that such expansionist ideas would only fuel the conflict and destroy prospects for peace in the region.

Egypt

Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry on Monday reaffirmed Egypt’s rejection of Netanyahu’s recent statements about his vision of “Greater Israel,” according to official Egyptian media. Days earlier, in an interview with an Israeli channel, Netanyahu said he felt he was on a “historic and spiritual mission” and was “deeply committed” to the vision of “Greater Israel,” a statement understood as a desire to expand occupation into several Arab countries, including Egypt and Jordan.

Shoukry said, “Egypt completely rejects the recent Israeli statements regarding the illusions of what is called ‘Greater Israel,’ which reflect nothing but the arrogance of power, and Egypt will neither accept nor allow their implementation.”

The Egyptian Foreign Minister made these remarks during his participation in the extraordinary session of the Council of Foreign Ministers of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) member states in Jeddah on Monday to discuss Israeli attacks on Palestinians.

He added that such “ideas will only lead to inflaming the conflict, expanding its scope, and eliminating the horizon of peaceful coexistence among peoples in the region.”

Shoukry also stated that “Israel is committing genocide crimes against an unarmed people, obstructing the work of UN institutions, pushing populations to displacement, and deliberately ignoring mediators’ attempts to reach a ceasefire in Gaza.”

He emphasized the need to pressure Israel to accept the proposed deal according to the American envoy Steve Whitaker’s proposal.

He also renewed Egypt’s rejection of “liquidating the Palestinian cause” and condemned and rejected the expansion of Israeli military operations in Gaza.

Saudi Arabia

Similarly, Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan expressed the Kingdom’s condemnation of Israeli statements about the “Greater Israel vision.”

Prince Faisal bin Farhan, at the extraordinary ministerial meeting of the OIC Council of Foreign Ministers on Monday, stated that Saudi Arabia condemns “the recent Israeli statements regarding what is called the ‘Greater Israel vision’ and completely rejects the settlement and expansionist projects adopted by the Israeli occupation authorities, affirming the historic right of the Palestinian people to establish their independent state.”

He added that Israeli practices in Gaza “constitute the greatest threat to security and peace,” calling on “the international community to immediately put an end to the crimes committed by the Israeli occupation forces, firmly reject the occupation authority’s announcement of its intention to impose full military control over the Gaza Strip, and resolutely confront plans aimed at displacing the Palestinian people from their land.”

Prince Faisal bin Farhan stressed “the importance of taking all steps and measures to break the siege and deliver relief and humanitarian aid in full cooperation with international mechanisms, demanding the occupation forces open all crossings and allow the urgent and sufficient entry and passage of aid without any obstacles.”

The Saudi Foreign Minister pointed out that his country “supports Egyptian and Qatari efforts to achieve a ceasefire in Gaza and support the rapid flow of humanitarian aid to Gaza.”

He said that “the continuation of Israeli violations without accountability or punishment undermines the international system and international law rules, destroys opportunities for cooperation and international legitimacy, and will expand the circle of conflict and unrest, threatening security and peace not only in the region but worldwide.”