Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s statement in an August 12 interview with i24NEWS, declaring his commitment to the vision of “Greater Israel,” encompassing, among other areas, the West Bank, calls for a response.
The prime minister and the Knesset’s July 23 declaration of a commitment to Greater Israel, that is, to Israeli control over all the territory from the Jordan River to the Mediterranean Sea, reflects a worldview that betrays the Zionist vision of Israel as a secure democracy with a solid Jewish majority for generations.
It flies in the face of demographic realities, Israel’s security needs, our relations with peace-partner and others in the region, contravenes decisions of international tribunals, and undermines Israel’s international standing.
Demographically, between the Jordan River and the Mediterranean Sea, there are about 15 million people – half of them Jews and half Palestinians. Permanent control over the entire territory entails annexing millions of Palestinians. Depriving them of equal rights would mark the end of Israeli democracy. Alternatively, by granting them citizenship, Jews would become a minority – at best, a slim majority – in our only land.
Not to this end was the state established; not for this have we fought tirelessly for Israel’s sovereign existence.
Regionally, this reckless move would force Israel’s peace partners, near (Egypt and Jordan) and distant (UAE, Bahrain, and Morocco), to sever ties with Israel. It would end the hope for normalization of relations with Saudi Arabia and other Arab and non-Arab Muslim countries.
Isolating Israel
Internationally, making permanent our hold on all the territories would isolate Israel and expose it to legal, diplomatic, economic, and security-related sanctions, with dire consequences for the quality of life of Israelis as for our national security.
The very declared intention to impose sovereignty over the territories, reflected in Netanyahu’s declaration and a previous Knesset resolution, coupled with action on the ground, has already eroded relations with our closest friends in Europe. Even in the US, a central pillar of the Israeli national security equation, the erosion within both political parties threatens to undermine our unwritten strategic alliance.
The direct and indirect security costs of enforcing our control over the entire area and millions of Palestinians will require a continuous and vast military deployment, diverting resources essential for other missions, while imposing heavy costs of blood and treasure.
It will deepen the divide between Jews and Arabs, both within the country and in the region. Losing the cooperation and contribution of the Palestinian Authority security agencies will increase the burden on our forces and the bloodshed.
Israel’s recent military successes have created a geostrategic reality and a rare opportunity to significantly upgrade our national security by integrating into regional frameworks vis-a-vis Iran and otherwise.
Adopting the idea of Greater Israel scraps these opportunities.
The slogan may sound noble to a certain marginal segment of the Israeli public, but its implementation promises a nightmare.
A genuine commitment to a future aligned with the Zionist vision calls for a sober approach: overruling messianic ideas and considering calculated risks to ensure seizing opportunities while addressing security needs.
It must be emphasized that the government has no mandate to lead Israel in such a dangerous direction without the consent of the sovereign – the Israeli citizenry.
CIS calls on our prime minister to jettison such harmful ideas, end the chaos in the West Bank, and restrain his coalition partners who aim to promote the idea of Greater Israel under the radar of public scrutiny.
Likewise, and with equal urgency, we wish to remind him of his duty to reconsider alternatives to the conquest of Gaza and to bring all the hostages home – immediately.
Arie Pellman served as deputy director of the Shin Bet (Israel Security Agency) and is a member of Commanders for Israel’s Security (CIS).
Nimrod Novik served as policy adviser and special envoy to late prime minister Shimon Peres. He is a member of Commanders for Israel’s Security and a fellow with both the Israel Policy Forum and the Economic Cooperation Foundation.