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Comment by iamleppert | Hacker News Reader

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> Netanyahu is viewed as the messiah of the Jewish people

I think there was a strong urge to portray him as the second coming of King David (the slayer of Goliath) after the assassinations of (other war criminals) Deif, Haniyeh, Nasrallah, Saifeddine, and Sinwar within 6 months of each other.

> something about rebuilding a temple in Jerusalem

No temple yet, but there's a valid religious claim should they choose to build one on the Rock. The main mosque is actually a few hundred meters removed from the Rock.

> until he achieves the eradication of the Palestinian people he will not rest

Think the political apparatus strives to control the demographics (for its own survival)? Eradication is one mechanism, but at 7 million Palestinians, they'd need to summon a World War esque scenario to pull it off. So, unlikely?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greater_Israel

Numerous IDF soldiers and settlers have been photographed wearing or displaying the shape of Greater Israel - a plan to seize land and expand Israel into almost every one of its neighbors territories. Tim Walz even let slip in the debate that "expansion" was a key goal of US support.

To speak only to the factual claims and not any of your conclusions: Biblical Israel did not include any part of Egypt, nor does it contain all of Lebanon. It is concerning that you would claim this when the biblical map of Israel is a Google search away.

Speaking as someone within the Jewish community, absolutely no one views Netanyahu as the messiah. You will find all sorts and views that are for or against, but none that he is some messiah. (I'm sure you could find some 5 cranks who do; you could also find 5 Christian cranks who believe the earth is flat. In that case it would never even occur to you to say that Christians believe the earth is flat.)

The belief is that the temple will be rebuilt when the messiah comes. It has not, which is also something you could have googled. There is a tiny segment who wishes to make that happen now. The overwhelming majority see this as something that will happen in messianic times, not an instruction manual for the present.

If you are this misinformed on points that are easily looked up I strongly suggest you seek information outside of whatever echo chamber you currently find yourself in.

Just to clarify - there is some technical correctness in this statement "Biblical Israel did not include any part of Egypt, nor does it contain all of Lebanon". I believe Genesis 15:18–21 says in "from the Wadi of Egypt to the great river [Euphrates]" (also see "map of Kingdom of King Solomon"). While this would suggest the "promised land" includes all the way to modern Iraq, it is true that most maps exclude the Phonecian areas around Tyre and Sidon. And the definition of "the wadi of Egypt" has been interpreted by some as the Nile, but I think this is mostly not believed. So it is most likely correct that "Biblical Israel does not contain ALL of Lebanon" and "did not include any part of Egypt", but this elides the fact that the Biblical narrative (not necessarily backed up by archeology) would extend into many neighboring countries.

[edit] To clarify - I do believe that some Israelis are motivated by a desire to occupy "Biblical Israel", but the parent comment is (a) ridiculous and (b) attributes way to many grand motivations for Netanyahu than I think are supported by evidence. (Compared to "savvy politician who says things to get votes for selfish reasons.")

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