Israeli lawmakers push to restore ‘Judea and Samaria’ in government documents
Legislation to identify the “West Bank” as “Judea and Samaria” in Israeli government documents faces its first vote in the Knesset plenum on Wednesday.
MK Simcha Rothman in Tel Aviv, June 18, 2023. Photo by Gideon Markowicz/TPS
“Judea and Samaria are an inseparable part of the historic homeland of the Jewish people,” the bill’s preamble states. “The most decisive events in our history took place in these regions, where our forefathers, prophets, sages and kings established their capital and kingdom.”
“In contrast, the term ‘West Bank,’ which originated in a period of foreign rule, reflects a colonialist perspective that ignores the deep historical connection of the Jewish people to its land,” the preamble added.
The legislation, which is expected to pass the first plenum reading, will then be sent to the Constitution, Law and Justice Committee for further discussion. The bill’s sponsor, MK Simcha Rothman, chairs that committee.
“Replacing the term ‘West Bank’ with ‘Judea and Samaria’ will reflect the legislature’s recognition of the Jewish People’s historical right to the land and correct a historical distortion,” said Rothman. “We must avoid using language that serves the enemy and supports a false narrative. Therefore, the significance of this change is immense,” Rothman said.
Judea refers to areas south of Jerusalem, including Gush Etzyon, and the Hebron region and areas to the east all the way to the Dead Sea. Samaria is a collective reference to areas north of Jerusalem, such as the Binyamin region, the Jordan Valley, and Samaria.
Judea was the name of the region when it was a province of the Roman Empire. Roman authorities renamed the province Syria Palaestina, or “Syrian Palestine” following a failed Jewish insurrection in 135 CE.
The name “West Bank” comes from its geographic location on the western side of the Jordan River. Following Israel’s War of Independence, Jordan occupied Judea and Samaria and named it “The West Bank” to distinguish it from the “East Bank” of Jordan River, which makes up Jordan proper.
Similar legislation to use the names Judea and Samaria in official US documents was recently introduced to the US Congress.
