Greater Israel (Hebrew, Eretz Yisrael [Hashlema])
GREATER ISRAEL (Hebrew, Eretz Yisrael [Hashlema])
The phrase Eretz Yisrael is biblical in origin and refers in that context to various parts of the region that were under Jewish sovereignty at different times. Under the British Mandate, Eretz Yisrael (Land of Israel) was used as the Hebrew name for Palestine. After 1948 David Ben-Gurion used the term Medinat Israel (State of Israel), but other Israeli politicians, including Menachem Begin, continued to speak of Eretz Yisrael to suggest an allegiance to the larger historic (biblical) Israel, or the "Greater Israel." After the 1967 Arab-Israel War, the Greater Land of Israel (Eretz Yisrael Hashelema) movement developed; its adherents opposed ceding sovereignty over newly conquered territories and began a settlement campaign in disputed areas. The right-wing Herut Party, prior to 1973, continually evoked the notion of a Greater Israel through its emphasis on Jewish control of the territory of Eretz Yisrael and its opposition to ceding sovereignty over disputed areas. In 1973 Herut became the senior partner of the Likud bloc.
SEE ALSO Arab-Israel War (1967);Begin, Menachem;British Mandate;Gurion, David Ben-;Herut Party;Likud.