In a recent interview with Israel’s i24 News, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu openly declared his support for the vision of “Greater Israel.” Asked by interviewer Sharon Gal if he subscribes to this controversial idea, Netanyahu responded without hesitation: “Absolutely.”

While the U.S. mainstream media has largely ignored the comment, the Israeli leader’s statement immediately drew condemnation from a coalition of Arab and Muslim states. For those unfamiliar with the term, it may seem like political jargon.

But in reality, Netanyahu’s words represent a dangerous watershed moment. To understand why, it is necessary to trace the history and meaning of “Greater Israel.”

The phrase “Greater Israel” gained political currency after Israel’s territorial conquests in the 1967 Arab-Israeli War. But its ideological roots lie in the Revisionist Zionism of the early 20th century.