Both Israel and the United States are introducing legislation to replace the internationally recognized name 'West Bank' with the biblical terms 'Judea and Samaria'. This move, seen as an attempt to legitimize Israel's control over Palestinian territories, has sparked international condemnation.
Israel and the United States are simultaneously introducing legislation in their respective legislative bodies to replace the internationally recognized term ' West Bank ' with the biblical terms 'Judea and Samaria'. This move, aimed at solidifying Israel 's claim over the Palestinian territory, has drawn widespread criticism from international law experts and human rights organizations.
The occupied West Bank, home to approximately three million Palestinians, encompasses the area stretching east of Israel's pre-1967 borders. It was captured by Israel during the 1967 Six-Day War, along with East Jerusalem and Gaza.The Israeli bill asserts that Judea and Samaria are an 'inseparable part' of the Jewish homeland, citing historical and religious connections. It argues that their 'forefathers, prophets, sages and kings' established it as their capital. The US bill echoes this sentiment, calling for an end to the 'egregious confusion' over the 'genuine name' of Israel's 'zone of influence' and promoting the use of 'Judea and Samaria' as the 'historically accurate' term.Critics argue that this renaming effort is part of a larger Israeli propaganda campaign to legitimize its illegal occupation of Palestinian territories. Omer Bartov, a Jewish professor of Holocaust and Genocide Studies at Brown University, emphasizes that the West Bank is an illegally occupied territory under international law, regardless of its designation. He points out that the Israeli government has been using the term 'Judea and Samaria' since 1968, making the current legislation largely propagandistic. Furthermore, Bartov highlights the historical displacement of Palestinians by the Zionist project of settlement and state building, emphasizing that Palestinians are the indigenous population of Palestine.The election of President Donald Trump in the US has further emboldened Israel's efforts to solidify its control over the occupied Palestinian territories. Despite the ongoing peace process, successive Israeli governments have allowed for the expansion of settlements, which restrict Palestinian movement, hinder trade, and prevent the establishment of a contiguous and viable Palestinian state.Richard Falk, a professor emeritus of international law at Princeton University, criticizes the internationalization of the Zionist renaming of the West Bank as a deliberate affront to the international consensus. He sees it as indicative of the confrontation between Israel and the international community, particularly under the leadership of Netanyahu and Trump. Falk warns that if implemented substantively, the renaming effort will further exacerbate the already dire situation facing the Palestinian people
PALESTINE ISRAEL WEST BANK JUDEA AND SAMARIA OCCUPATION INTERNATIONAL LAW SETTLEMENTS PEACE PROCESS PROPAGANDA
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