Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has again linked himself to the long-debated idea of a “Greater Israel,” telling an Israeli broadcaster that he is on a “historic and spiritual mission” and remains deeply committed to the concept of expanding Israel’s borders. The remarks triggered an unusually swift collective response from Arab institutions. The Arab League denounced the comments as a “grave threat” to the Arab world’s collective security and a blatant challenge to international law and U.N. resolutions. The Gulf Cooperation Council, Jordan and Saudi Arabia each issued separate statements rejecting what they called provocative expansionist rhetoric. Qatar and the 57-member Organisation of Islamic Cooperation also condemned the comments, warning of regional instability if territorial claims on sovereign Arab lands are pursued. Militant group Hamas and other Palestinian factions said Netanyahu’s language proved Israel harbors expansionist ambitions that endanger neighboring states. Diplomats from several capitals urged the U.N. Security Council to address the issue, underscoring the risk that the dispute could add to already heightened tensions across the Middle East.