Najmuddin A. Farooqi.
Few political and religious narratives have generated as much anxiety within sections of the global Muslim community as the notion of a “Greater Israel” a purported Zionist plan to establish Israeli control over vast territories extending beyond the internationally recognized borders of the State of Israel. Over the years, this idea has been repeatedly circulated through speeches, sermons, social media posts and political commentary, often presented as an established fact.
While geopolitical developments in the Middle East deserve careful scrutiny, it is equally important to distinguish between legitimate concerns and narratives that gain acceptance primarily through repetition rather than evidence. Unfortunately, some self-proclaimed religious scholars and political commentators, enjoying substantial followings, have contributed to embedding this belief deeply within the collective psyche of many Muslims worldwide, including significant sections of Indian and Pakistani Muslim communities.
The Psychology of Repeated Claims
A principle often associated with Nazi Propaganda Minister Joseph Goebbels is the idea that if a falsehood is repeated often enough, people may eventually accept it as truth. Whether or not Goebbels used the exact phrase commonly attributed to him. Modern psychology has demonstrated a similar phenomenon known as the Illusory Truth Effect. Decades of research have shown that human beings tend to perceive familiar statements as more credible than unfamiliar ones. In other words, repetition can create an illusion of truth even when supporting evidence is weak or absent. This cognitive tendency affects people of all ideological, religious and political backgrounds. The lesson is simple, emotionally charged claims should be examined through facts, evidence and credible sources rather than frequency of repetition.
Evangelical Christianity and Support for Israel
A major source of confusion surrounding the “Greater Israel” narrative is the tendency to treat all Jews and Christian support for Israel as endorsement of territorial expansionism.
The United States, with a population of approximately 342 million people, remains predominantly Christian. Around 65 percent of Americans identify as Christians, including Protestants, Catholics and other denominations. Approximately 23 percent identify as Evangelical Christians, representing between 60 and 80 million individuals.
However, support for Israel among Evangelicals is not uniform. Evangelical communities hold a wide range of theological and political views. While some subscribe to interpretations of biblical prophecy that emphasize the restoration of Israel, many others support Israel for political, historical, humanitarian or strategic reasons rather than territorial or expansionist goals. Moreover, the percentage of Americans identifying as Evangelicals has gradually declined over the past two decades, falling from roughly 26 percent in 2007 to around 23 percent today.
Christians United for Israel (CUFI)
One organization frequently cited in discussions about Evangelical support for Israel is Christians United for Israel (CUFI), founded in 2006 by Pastor John Hagee.
CUFI claims a membership of approximately ten million people. According to publicly available figures, about 92 percent of its members are Christians and around 8 percent are Jews. This means that the overwhelming majority of the organization’s membership consists of American Christians rather than Jewish citizens.
The existence of CUFI is sometimes presented as evidence of a coordinated religious movement seeking to establish a “Greater Israel.” However, such conclusions often oversimplify the diversity of views held by its members and supporters.
Moreover, 86 years old John Hagee the CUFI’s founder himself is a controversial figure. He faced substantial criticism for comments made that God permitted the Holocaust as part of a divine plan to facilitate the return of Jews to the Holy Land. These remarks were condemned by many Jewish organizations and scholars. He also attracted criticism for describing the Catholic Church in highly negative terms, including references to it as a “false cult system.” These controversies demonstrate that while Hagee is an influential religious figure, his views do not necessarily represent mainstream Christian opinion in the United States.
The “Greater Israel” Concept: Fringe Ideology or State Policy?
Perhaps the most important question is whether the so-called “Greater Israel” vision constitutes an official policy of the Israeli state. “The evidence suggests that it does not”.
The idea of a biblical Israel extending across territories that today belong to several Middle Eastern nations exists primarily within certain religious-nationalist and fringe ideological circles. It is occasionally reflected in symbolic maps used by some far-right political activists and public figures. However, it is not an officially adopted policy of the Israeli government, nor is it a position supported by the majority of Israeli Jews.
Like many countries, Israel contains a broad spectrum of political opinion ranging from the far left to the far right. The views of extremist factions should not automatically be confused with the policies of the state or the beliefs of an entire population.
The Need for Intellectual Vigilance
Muslims, like all communities, face a responsibility to distinguish between verifiable facts and emotionally compelling narratives. Genuine concerns regarding Palestinian rights, regional security, settlement expansion and geopolitical instability deserve serious discussion. However, these issues should be examined through evidence-based analysis rather than through assumptions that every political development is part of a predetermined civilizational conspiracy.
History teaches us that societies become vulnerable when fear replaces critical thinking. The strength of a community lies not in its ability to circulate alarming narratives but in its ability to evaluate claims objectively, challenge misinformation, and engage with reality as it exists.
The notion of “Greater Israel” continues to exert a powerful influence on public discourse across the Muslim world. Yet a careful examination reveals that much of the discussion is driven by perception, repetition and ideological amplification rather than by established state policy or broad public consensus. A concept far from reality.
