Senior Newsweek Editor Dismisses 'Greater Israel' Claims as 'Total Garbage' in Fiery Exchange with Conservative Journalist

"The 'Greater Israel' project is TOTAL GARBAGE."Heated clash between Newsweek Senior Editor-at-Large Josh Hammer and The American Conservative Correspondent Harrison Berger as Hammer rejects claims that Israel is pursuing a so-called "Greater Israel" project.@josh_hammer @BergerPosts News Analysis & Summary A heated debate erupted between Newsweek Senior Editor-at-Large Josh Hammer and The American Conservative Correspondent Harrison Berger over the so-called 'Greater Israel' project. During the clash, Hammer forcefully rejected accusations that Israel is pursuing an expansionist agenda aimed at establishing a 'Greater Israel' from the Nile to the Euphrates, labeling the entire notion as 'total garbage.' Berger, however, countered by citing historical statements from Israeli politicians and religious Zionists that he argues point to long-term territorial ambitions beyond current borders. The exchange highlights the deep ideological divide on Israeli policy, with Hammer insisting that modern Israeli statecraft is pragmatic and defensive, while Berger warns that ignoring fringe elements risks normalizing expansionism. In my opinion, the term 'Greater Israel' is often used as a rhetorical cudgel rather than a concrete policy blueprint. While there are indeed hardline voices within Israel that dream of biblical borders, the country's actual political and military actionsincluding withdrawals from Gaza and parts of the West Banksuggest a more complex reality. Both sides oversimplify: dismissing the narrative entirely ignores real extremist currents, but treating it as a confirmed master plan ignores the messy, democratic nature of Israeli politics. The truth lies somewhere in between, and such polarized debates rarely help clarify it. Source: @AlArabiya_Eng on X/TwitterPublic Engagement Views: 4,728 Likes: 7 Comments: 4 Shares: 4 Published: July 7, 2026, 10:35 pm