In a new documentary, Israeli minister Bezalel Smotrich detailed his desire to conquer not only all Palestinian territory to the Jordan River but also the Syrian capital of Damascus and territories extending as far as Iraq and Saudi Arabia.
Smotrich, the Finance Minister in the Israeli cabinet and head of the Religious Zionism party, made the comments in a recently released documentary entitled Israel: Extremists in Power. The documentary was produced by Arte Reportage, a Franco-German broadcast news magazine.
When asked about his goal, Smotrich tells the interviewer,
“I want a Jewish state … It is a country run according to the values of the Jewish people.”
The interviewer then asked Smotrich whether he thought the borders of the Jewish state should extend past the Jordan River. Smotrich responded by saying,
“Absolutely, but slowly … Our great religious elders used to say that the future of Jerusalem was to extend as far as Damascus.”
The documentary narrator then added,
“Bezalel Smotrich has a maximalist vision of the promised land. And it includes all Palestinian lands, but also territories in Jordan, Syria, Lebanon, Iraq, and Egypt. Even in Saudi Arabia. A radical vision admittedly, but one that is accepted in public debate in Israel.”
The support of Israel is also a trade show for US policy, showing the perks of allying with the US, showing the consequences when you go against it. However, the Israel first policy undermines US policy and by extension weakens Israel. I really think the US policy is to grasp on their last standing in the middle east because deep down the US’ present in the region is untenable.