Al-Azhar headquarters in Cairo
Al-Azhar added that the remarks reveal extremist ambitions to seize the region's resources and swallow what remains of Palestine's land in blatant disregard for the will and rights of its people.
It noted that such political fantasies will not alter reality, describing them as arrogance and an attempt to divert attention from Israel's crimes, massacres, and acts of genocide in Gaza—policies it said are aimed at erasing Palestine from the world map.
Furthermore, according to the statement, Al-Azhar reaffirmed that no propaganda or force can legitimise the occupation of even "a single inch" of Palestinian land. It stressed that Palestine's identity as an integral part of the Arab and Muslim world can neither be erased nor distorted, and that rights do not expire with time.
Moreover, Al-Azhar rejected what it described as "extremist religious narratives" that Israel promotes now and then to test the resolve of the region's states and peoples in confronting these illusions. It called on the Arab and Islamic world to unite against this arrogance, which it warned threatens national unity and regional stability.
Similarly, Al-Azhar urged greater coordination of Arab and Islamic positions. It also stressed the cardinal importance of intensified political, diplomatic, and media efforts to expose Israeli falsehoods and counter its schemes.
In addition, Al-Azhar affirmed that Al-Aqsa Mosque and all the other holy sites "will never become an easy prey" and that, ultimately, truth will prevail no matter how long it takes.
Al-Azhar's statement comes in response to a recent i24NEWS interview with Netanyahu. During the interview, Netanyahu described himself as undertaking what he called a "historic and spiritual mission." He also noted that he felt "very much connected" to realising the vision of "Greater Israel."
Greater Israel is an ideologically charged term used in Zionist discourse. It refers to a broader territorial claim stretching from the Nile River to the Euphrates, encompassing parts of Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, Iraq, Egypt, and Saudi Arabia.
Arab nations, including Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Egypt, Qatar, the Arab League, and others, condemned Netanyahu's remarks as expansionist, a violation of international sovereignty, and a threat to regional stability.
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