Egypt and Jordan have welcomed a statement by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in which he clarified that Israel has no territorial claims against neighboring Arab states. Officials familiar with the matter described the move as a “diplomatic success,” according to a Thursday report by Kan Reshet Bet correspondents Roi Kais and Suleiman Maswadeh.

The clarification came in response to backlash over remarks Netanyahu made several weeks ago in an interview with Israel’s i24 News channel, where he voiced sympathy for the idea of “Greater Israel.” The concept includes not only Judea and Samaria (the so-called “West Bank”) but also parts of Jordan, Lebanon, Egypt, and Syria. His comments triggered harsh reactions, with Jordan’s and Qatar’s foreign ministries condemning them as a threat to sovereignty.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu:

Contrary to the false accusation, Israel has no territorial claims against any neighboring countries.

Our goal is peace and security.

— Prime Minister of Israel (@IsraeliPM) August 31, 2025

Egypt’s foreign minister, Badr Abdelatty, publicly rejected the remarks at the time, declaring that Cairo would never allow Israel to pursue such ambitions, which were interpreted across the region as a sign of expansionist aspirations.

In the weeks that followed, officials in both Amman and Cairo reportedly worked behind the scenes to secure an official clarification. According to the report, Egypt even pressed Netanyahu’s office to issue a clear statement in English, given the sensitivity of the issue and the risk of damaging relations during an already tense period marked by the ongoing war in Gaza and unrest in the biblical heartland.

The publication of Netanyahu’s clarification was therefore seen in Cairo and Amman as a step back from his earlier rhetoric and a sign of responsiveness to their concerns.

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