An analysis published by The Guardian, authored by Daniel Levy, examines how Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the far right interpret the concept of “Greater Israel”. The argument moves beyond territorial expansion, framing it instead as a strategic project to position Israel as the dominant power in the region.
A War Strategy Beyond Regime Change
Levy highlights ongoing ambiguity surrounding the durability of the temporary ceasefire in the US Israeli war against Iran. However, one point remains consistent: while Donald Trump lacked a coherent plan, Netanyahu pursued a defined strategic objective.
Israel’s war aims, according to the analysis, were not limited to regime change in Iran. The primary goal was to weaken the Iranian state to the point of internal collapse, significantly reducing its regional influence.
Despite the ceasefire, Netanyahu made it clear that the campaign is not over, stating that Israel remains ready to resume military operations. This reflects a long term strategy that leverages geopolitical instability to advance a broader vision.
Expansion on the Ground: Gaza, the West Bank, and Beyond
The territorial dimension remains central to the “Greater Israel” concept. Israel’s expansionist trajectory has historically involved the displacement of Palestinians, a process that has intensified significantly in recent years.
Over the past two and a half years:
- Gaza has been devastated, with tens of thousands killed and large-scale destruction of civilian infrastructure
- The territory has effectively been reoccupied and its population confined
In the West Bank, Israeli operations have escalated into what is described as an unprecedented campaign of destruction and displacement since the Six-Day War, accompanied by expanded settlement activity.
Following the fall of Bashar al-Assad in 2024, Israel moved to seize additional territory in Syria beyond the illegally annexed Golan Heights, while also advancing efforts to reimpose occupation in southern Lebanon.
Far right ministers, including Bezalel Smotrich, have openly called for expansion as far as Damascus. Netanyahu himself has expressed a strong personal alignment with this broader regional vision.
From Territorial Expansion to Regional Hegemony
Levy argues that “Greater Israel” should be understood not only as a territorial project but as a geopolitical framework built on dominance.
Territorial control is the visible and immediate component. The deeper objective is a system of regional hegemony structured around:
- New alliance configurations
- Strategic dependence of neighbouring states
- Sustained military superiority
After the events of October 2023 and the scale of Israel’s actions in Gaza, regional normalisation efforts began to stall. Netanyahu faced a strategic choice:
- Re-engage with regional diplomacy in a way that accommodates Palestinian rights
- Maintain a hardline stance, rejecting any Palestinian political future
He chose the latter. This decision necessitated weakening Iran as a central pillar of regional resistance, a move that required direct and extensive US military involvement.
Reshaping the Regional Balance of Power
According to Israeli security perspectives cited in the analysis, significantly weakening or collapsing Iran would elevate Israel into a dominant regional position, particularly in the eyes of key Sunni states.
However, achieving this outcome involves more than neutralising Iran. It requires:
- Weakening Gulf Cooperation Council states, including Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates
- Forcing these states into reliance on Israel for security and energy export routes
Levy suggests that the spillover effects of the war, including Iranian drone and missile strikes targeting Gulf states, may not be incidental but rather a strategic outcome that reinforces this dependency dynamic.
The disruption of global trade routes through the Strait of Hormuz further intensified regional vulnerability. As tensions escalated, Israel targeted Iranian energy infrastructure, prompting reciprocal Iranian actions against Gulf states.
Energy Corridors and Strategic Infrastructure
Netanyahu used the crisis to promote alternative energy routes that would bypass chokepoints such as Hormuz and Bab al Mandab.
His proposal involves:
- Extending oil and gas pipelines westward across the Arabian Peninsula
- Routing exports through Israel
- Connecting to Mediterranean ports under Israeli control
This would reposition Israel as a central hub in global energy logistics, strengthening its economic and geopolitical leverage.
The “Hexagonal Alliance” Vision
Shortly before the war, during a visit by Narendra Modi, Netanyahu outlined a broader strategic framework described as a multi axis regional alliance.
This proposed structure would include:
- India
- Arab states
- African countries
- Mediterranean states such as Greece and Cyprus
- Additional Asian partners
Israel would act as the central node within this network, consolidating its role as a regional and transregional power.
Operational Control Without Formal Occupation
Further insight comes from analysis linked to Israeli military strategy institutions, which suggest a shift toward “operational control” beyond Israel’s borders without direct occupation.
This approach aims to:
- Project military influence into distant areas
- Maintain strategic dominance without administrative burden
- Establish Israel as the primary power shaping regional order
In Israeli political discourse, this has been described metaphorically as positioning Israel as the “lion” within a regional “jungle”, reinforcing a hierarchy in which surrounding states operate within a system aligned to Israeli interests.
Netanyahu has increasingly framed Israel not only as a regional power but, in certain respects, as a global one.
Targeting Future Rivals and Strategic Risks
Within this framework, emerging regional powers are already being identified as future strategic challenges. Among them, Turkey has been explicitly referenced as a potential adversary.
While some may dismiss discussions of “Greater Israel” as rhetorical exaggeration during wartime, recent policy directions suggest otherwise. A persistent war driven mindset is embedded across Israel’s political spectrum, including government, opposition, security institutions, and influential media circles.
However, this trajectory carries significant risks:
- Strategic overreach
- Regional backlash
- Long term instability
Levy concludes that containing and deterring this hegemonic project may become one of the central challenges in the post war regional order.
