Arab nations slam Netanyahu's 'Greater Israel' plan

The Arab League and the Gulf Cooperation Council have rejected Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's "Greater Israel" remarks, denouncing the rhetoric as stemming from an "extremist mindset steeped in colonial delusions and a dangerous expansionist approach".

They also said such rhetoric constitutes a violation of the sovereignty of Arab states and an attempt to undermine security and stability in the region.

Secretary-General of the GCC Jasem Mohamed Albudaiwi stressed that such dangerous statements and plans "clearly reveal the dangerous approach pursued by the occupation authorities", as he underlined the categorical rejection of the GCC countries of any attempts to prejudice the national sovereignty and territorial integrity of Arab countries.

Netanyahu's remarks were made in response to an interview with i24News, which aired on Tuesday, after he was asked if he "feels a connection" to a "vision" of "Greater Israel" and to which he responded "very much", the Times of Israel reported.

His comments also come as farright Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich announced that he plans to approve tenders to build more than 3,000 homes that would connect Jerusalem and the existing Israeli settlement of Maale Adumim, located several kilometers to the east that would "bury the Palestinian state".

Palestine's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates condemned Israel's issuance of tenders for the construction of thousands of new colonial units.

In a statement on Thursday, the ministry said the tenders are part of Israel's plan "to undermine the possibility of establishing a Palestinian state, undermine its geographic and demographic unity, and perpetuate the division of the West Bank into isolated areas, submerged in a colonial environment to facilitate its eventual annexation".

The ministry appealed to the international community to intervene and impose sanctions "to force the occupation to halt its plans, comply with the international consensus on resolving the Palestinian issue, halt genocide, displacement, and annexation, and enable the Palestinians to achieve their right to self-determination".

Ayman Yousef, a professor of international relations at the Arab American University in Jenin, West Bank, told China Daily that Netanyahu's public statements on expanding the "project of Greater Israel", though nothing new, at this stage "give different lessons".

One could be to the Israeli public opinion that Netanyahu is an inspirational leader. The other even may be to the US administration, that there is an alliance of Israeli rightists and their US supporters, said Yousef.

The third message is "to the Israeli army, to be ready for new adventures. Maybe in Syria and Lebanon and even Jordan", he added.

The latest moves and policies by senior Israeli officials have narrowed the room for diplomacy as they all happen just weeks before a major United Nations conference on recognizing Palestinian statehood is set to take place in New York next month and as negotiations for reaching a Gaza truce continue in Cairo and Doha this week.

However, Israeli killings are continuing in Gaza, with Al Jazeera reporting at least 23 Palestinians have died in Israeli attacks in the besieged enclave since dawn on Thursday. Among the victims were 10 people who were seeking aid.

Crisis for aid groups

International aid organizations are also not pushing back on their claims that lifesaving supplies being allowed by Israel are just a drop in the ocean, ignoring Israeli claims that say otherwise.

More than 100 aid groups — including Oxfam, Caritas Internationalis, and Doctors Without Borders — issued a joint statement on Thursday, calling on Israel to "end the weaponization of aid", including through bureaucratic obstruction, and for the immediate and unconditional opening of all land crossings for the delivery of lifesaving aid.

On Wednesday, China signed an agreement to contribute to the UN agency for Palestinian refugees, or UNRWA, and called for continued international support for the body, which says it faces an "existential crisis" from the war in Gaza and a severe funding gap.

The contribution agreement, part of Beijing's annual donation, was signed in the Jordanian capital by Zeng Jixin, head of China's office to the State of Palestine, and Karim Amer, UNRWA's director of partnerships.

Zeng said China has increased its annual donation and provided medical supplies and other aid since the Gaza conflict erupted.

Xinhua contributed to this story.