In this statement, Israeli politician Bezalel Smotrich presents a comprehensive territorial vision for Israel that extends far beyond current borders. He describes Israeli sovereignty as beginning at the sea (Mediterranean) and ending at the river (Jordan), while positioning this as only the initial stage of expansion. Smotrich references classical Jewish sources to support a maximalist interpretation of the Promised Land, specifically citing a tradition that Jerusalem is destined to expand until Damascus. His vision encompasses not only Palestinian territories but also substantial portions of neighboring countries including Jordan, Syria, Lebanon, Iraq, Egypt, and Saudi Arabia. The statement presents this expansionist framework as a sequential process, with the Jordan River serving as a near-term boundary and further regional expansion as a longer-term objective.
Key Points
- Smotrich defines Israeli sovereignty as extending from the Mediterranean Sea to the Jordan River as the current stage.
- He characterizes further territorial expansion beyond the Jordan as the next phase in a staged process.
- He cites classical Jewish sources as the basis for a territorial vision in which Jerusalem expands until Damascus.
- His maximalist vision of the Promised Land includes Palestinian territories, Jordan, Syria, Lebanon, Iraq, Egypt, and Saudi Arabia.
- The statement frames territorial expansion as a sequential progression rather than a single immediate objective.
Article
Hebrew
Knowledge Library reading view for this lecture
Bezalel Smotrich outlines a maximalist territorial vision for Israeli sovereignty extending from the Mediterranean Sea to the Jordan River and beyond, including claims to Palestinian territories and parts of Jordan, Syria, Lebanon, Iraq, Egypt, and Saudi Arabia, citing classical Jewish sources.
Summary
In this statement, Israeli politician Bezalel Smotrich presents a comprehensive territorial vision for Israel that extends far beyond current borders. He describes Israeli sovereignty as beginning at the sea (Mediterranean) and ending at the river (Jordan), while positioning this as only the initial stage of expansion. Smotrich references classical Jewish sources to support a maximalist interpretation of the Promised Land, specifically citing a tradition that Jerusalem is destined to expand until Damascus. His vision encompasses not only Palestinian territories but also substantial portions of neighboring countries including Jordan, Syria, Lebanon, Iraq, Egypt, and Saudi Arabia. The statement presents this expansionist framework as a sequential process, with the Jordan River serving as a near-term boundary and further regional expansion as a longer-term objective.
Key takeaways
- Smotrich defines Israeli sovereignty as extending from the Mediterranean Sea to the Jordan River as the current stage.
- He characterizes further territorial expansion beyond the Jordan as the next phase in a staged process.
- He cites classical Jewish sources as the basis for a territorial vision in which Jerusalem expands until Damascus.
- His maximalist vision of the Promised Land includes Palestinian territories, Jordan, Syria, Lebanon, Iraq, Egypt, and Saudi Arabia.
- The statement frames territorial expansion as a sequential progression rather than a single immediate objective.
Full article
Israeli Sovereignty and Territorial Claims
Israeli sovereignty begins at the sea and ends at the river. At this stage, are we also located beyond the Jordan? That would be the next stage. Let me explain this gradually. It is written in the classical Jewish sources that in the future, Israel—specifically Jerusalem—is destined to expand until Damascus. That means we—only Jerusalem extends until Damascus.
Maximalist Vision of Territory
Bezalel Smotrich holds a maximalist vision of the Promised Land. This vision includes Palestinian territories, but also territories in Jordan, Syria, Lebanon, Iraq, Egypt, and Saudi Arabia.
Topics#Israeli territorial claims#Bezalel Smotrich#Maximalist vision#Middle East geopolitics#Jewish sources and interpretation#Israeli-Palestinian conflict