The implications and longevity of the recent two-week ceasefire in the ongoing conflict involving the United States and Israel against Iran remain uncertain. Nevertheless, one fact remains evident: while Donald Trump lacks a coherent strategy, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has a clear plan of action.
The objectives of Israel’s military campaign are centered on significantly weakening the Iranian state, aiming for a collapse rather than a mere change in regime. Even with the truce in place, Netanyahu has made it clear that this is “not the conclusion of the campaign” and that Israel is prepared to resume hostilities at any moment. As an experienced strategist, he has capitalized on the shifting geopolitical landscape during Trump’s second term to push towards his ultimate vision: the expansion of Israel’s territory.
Within the Israeli right, the concept of a “Greater Israel” is often viewed primarily as a territorial ambition—an effort to extend the land under Israeli claim. This interpretation is certainly important, particularly given Israel’s historical expansionism that has led to the displacement of Palestinians since its establishment, a trend that has recently intensified.
Over the past two and a half years, Israel has devastated Gaza, resulting in tens of thousands of deaths and the destruction of much of its civilian infrastructure. Reports indicate that the population of Gaza has been confined to a mere 12% of its already limited land area. In the West Bank, Israel’s actions against Palestinians and their properties have escalated to unprecedented levels since the Six-Day War in 1967, as it continues to expand its control and settlements.
Following the downfall of President Bashar al-Assad in 2024, Israel has taken additional territory in Syria, beyond the Golan Heights, and is establishing a new occupation zone in southern Lebanon. Officials from the Religious Zionism and Jewish Power parties, along with Likud members, are vocally advocating for Israeli sovereignty and settlement in Lebanon. Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich has even suggested that Israel should “expand to Damascus,” while Netanyahu has expressed a strong connection to the vision of Greater Israel.
However, this notion should be viewed not only as a territorial ambition but also as a geopolitical strategy. Securing and controlling land is merely one aspect; Netanyahu is pursuing a more complex and ambitious framework that involves forging new alliances supported by military strength.
To grasp this strategy, one must look back a few years. Following the horrific attacks on Israelis on October 7 and the subsequent severe military response in Gaza, Israel’s efforts to integrate regionally—by normalizing relations with Arab states—began to falter. Netanyahu faced a crucial decision: to either pursue normalization with a more conciliatory stance towards the Palestinians or to reinforce his uncompromising approach that denies any future for them. In choosing the latter, Netanyahu recognized the necessity of neutralizing Iran as a counterbalance in the region, which would require substantial military support from the United States.
In the lead-up to the conflict with Iran, two prominent former Israeli security officials noted that for many key Sunni states in the region, weakening or toppling Iran would solidify Israel’s position as the “dominant regional power.” Accomplishing this goal would not only mean undermining Iran but also diminishing the influence of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries—comprising Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates—while making them reliant on Israel for security and energy supplies. Thus, the war’s impact on the GCC, including their vulnerability to Iranian attacks, appears to be a strategic design rather than an unintended consequence.
As expected, the initiation of the conflict by Israel and the U.S. severely disrupted the GCC’s access to global markets through the Strait of Hormuz. Israel’s aggressive actions against Iranian energy assets prompted Iran to retaliate as threatened, targeting Gulf states.
Seizing this moment, Netanyahu has advocated for “alternative routes” to bypass the critical chokepoints of the Strait of Hormuz and Bab-el-Mandab, envisioning new oil and gas pipelines extending westward through the Arabian Peninsula to Israel and its Mediterranean ports.
In his public addresses, Netanyahu has articulated elements of his vision for Greater Israel. Just prior to the commencement of the war, during a visit from Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, he outlined plans to “create an extensive network of alliances around or within the Middle East,” involving India, Arab nations, African countries, Mediterranean states (such as Greece and Cyprus), and other Asian nations, positioning Israel as the central hub of this coalition.
A recent article in Hebrew by two senior figures at the Israeli Defense Forces’ strategy institute further elaborated on this vision. They asserted that Israel’s military strategy would not only involve direct territorial conquests but also achieving “operational control” in regions far from its borders without the need for occupation. This would elevate Israel to a status akin to that of a “queen” in a metaphorical jungle, referring to the broader Middle Eastern landscape, thereby establishing a regional order that advances Israeli interests.
In recent statements, Netanyahu has begun to describe Israel not just as a “regional superpower”…
