The Knesset passed in a preliminary reading a bill introduced by MK Simcha Rothman to replace the term “West Bank” with “Judea and Samaria” in Israeli government documents. The legislation aims to align legal terminology with Israel’s historical and national narrative. Rothman described the current terminology in Israel’s legal framework as a “historical distortion” that must be corrected.
“The fact that the official legal language of the State of Israel still includes the disgraceful term ‘West Bank’ is an insult to the Knesset, the Jewish people, and our history,” Rothman said. “This phrase serves a false narrative and erases our historical rights.”
The bill’s preamble states that “Judea and Samaria are an inseparable part of the historic homeland of the Jewish people,” emphasizing their significance in Jewish history. It argues that the term “West Bank” originated during foreign rule and reflects a colonialist perspective that disregards the deep Jewish connection to the land.
Following the preliminary approval, the bill will be referred to the Knesset’s Constitution, Law, and Justice Committee—chaired by Rothman—for further discussion before advancing to additional readings.
Judea and Samaria were the historical names of the region for centuries until Jordan renamed it the “West Bank” following Israel’s War of Independence. A similar initiative to use these terms in official U.S. documents has recently been introduced in Congress.
