The global narrative surrounding the West Bank, or more accurately, Judea and Samaria, has long been shaped by misinformation and distorted history. Often painted as land “illegally occupied” by Israel and the core obstacle to peace in the Middle East, this portrayal ignores thousands of years of Jewish connection, spiritual centrality, and legal as well as historical legitimacy. The calls for Israel to surrender this land in exchange for an illusory peace are not only strategically dangerous but morally bankrupt. To understand the truth, we must peel back layers of propaganda and revisit the actual roots of this conflict.
A Land Anchored in Jewish Identity
Long before modern geopolitical disputes, Judea and Samaria were the cradle of Jewish civilization. From the time of Joshua’s conquest of Canaan to the kingdoms of David and Solomon, these regions were the beating heart of ancient Israel. Jerusalem, Hebron, Shiloh, Bethlehem, and Jericho are not just biblical names—they are the foundations of the Jewish people’s religious, cultural, and national identity. The land was never “Palestinian” and no such state has ever existed in recorded history.
Following the Roman destruction of the Second Temple in 70 AD, Jews were exiled, but the bond with the land remained unbroken. No other people established sovereignty over Judea and Samaria during those 2,000 years. The land lay desolate until the modern Zionist movement began reviving it, long before any Arab national movement even recognized the concept of “Palestine.”
Jordan’s Illegal Occupation and the Myth of the “West Bank”
After Israel’s 1948 War of Independence, launched by five Arab nations rejecting a Jewish state—Judea and Samaria fell under Jordanian control. Jordan’s annexation was recognized only by Britain and Pakistan, and it involved the ethnic cleansing of Jews and the desecration of synagogues and holy sites. It was during this period that the name “West Bank” was invented, a political rebranding intended to sever the Jewish connection to the land.
In 1967, during the Six-Day War, Israel faced another existential threat as Egypt, Syria, and Jordan mobilized for destruction. In a miraculous victory, Israel reclaimed Judea and Samaria, not as a conqueror of foreign land, but as a nation returning to its ancestral homeland. Jordan officially relinquished all claims to the territory in 1988.
International Hypocrisy and Strategic Realities
The world’s obsession with carving out a 23rd Arab state at the expense of the only Jewish state has led to dangerous proposals. Demands that Israel relinquish Judea and Samaria ignore a critical truth: doing so would make Israel 9 miles wide at its narrowest point, inviting annihilation. Gaza already stands as proof of what happens when Israel cedes land for peace, it becomes a launchpad for terror.
While Israel has repeatedly offered far-reaching peace deals, including 93% of Judea and Samaria, these were met with rejection and waves of terror. The Oslo Accords gave the Arabs autonomy and were answered with suicide bombings. The 2005 withdrawal from Gaza led not to peace, but to Hamas rockets raining down on Israeli cities. Each time Israel extends an olive branch, it is met with bloodshed.
Rebirth, Not Occupation
What critics call “settlements” are in truth thriving Israeli communities, often built on barren land—that revive ancient towns and bring life to desolate hills. These communities represent resilience and faith, not colonialism. Unlike the forced Arab expulsions from Jewish areas in 1948, Jewish residents of Judea and Samaria have taken care not to infringe on private property, building legally and ethically on public or state-owned land.
These cities and towns provide schools, factories, synagogues, and homes for Israeli citizens who have returned to their heritage. To dismantle them would not only uproot people, it would tear apart the soul of the Jewish nation.
Moral Clarity in an Age of Confusion
The real obstacle to peace is not Israeli settlements, it is Arab rejectionism. As long as Hamas, Islamic Jihad, and other Iran-backed factions declare that Israel has no right to exist, no amount of land concessions will bring peace. The October 7 massacre, a genocidal rampage carried out by Hamas and ordinary Gazans, proved once again that this war is not over territory. It is about Israel’s existence.
Calls for a two-state solution rest on a moral fallacy: that there is equivalence between the Jewish people returning to their historic homeland and those seeking to destroy them. There is no equivalence. Israel’s military presence in Judea and Samaria is not an occupation, it is self-defense.
A Divine Inheritance, Not a Diplomatic Chip
Beyond strategy and history lies a spiritual truth: Judea and Samaria were given to the Jewish people by God. No resolution, no UN vote, no pressure campaign can revoke that divine promise. To surrender this land would not just be a political failure, it would be a betrayal of Jewish destiny.
The world day not understand, but Israel must stand firm. Sovereignty over Judea and Samaria is not only Israel’s right, it is her duty. As long as Israel holds this land with courage and clarity, she not only defends her people but also preserves the future of a free and moral civilization.
Peace cannot be achieved by erasing Jewish history or empowering those who seek to destroy the Jewish state. The truth is simple and enduring: Judea and Samaria are the heart of Israel. They are not “occupied”, they are home.
