Twenty U.S. States Move Toward Recognizing Judea and Samaria in New Legislative Push

Across the United States, representatives from twenty states are reportedly preparing proposals to formally recognize the Jewish people’s historical connection to Judea and Samaria following extensive visits by hundreds of American lawmakers to the region as guests of Samaria Regional Council head Yossi Dagan.

According to the council, senior leaders of major national legislative organizations in the U.S. have also held meetings with Dagan in Israel and in Washington. The legislators aim to enact state laws requiring official documents to use the term “Judea and Samaria” instead of “West Bank.”

Two lawmakers, Alabama Representative Mark Gidley and Tennessee Representative Chris Todd, who recently toured Samaria, informed Dagan that bills have already been submitted in their states. Their proposals call for terminological changes in all state documents as part of what they describe as a historic correction intended to reflect cultural and historical truth.

Dagan welcomed the initiative in a Zoom call, telling the lawmakers: “Thank you very much for the strategic bill. I am so pleased to thank you on behalf of all the residents of Judea and Samaria, and on behalf of all citizens of Israel. Especially in these difficult days, in days of war, the move is a tremendous declaration. It cancels the lie of the ‘West Bank,’ of the ‘occupation,’ and restores the true words ‘Judea and Samaria.’”

He added that partnership on the issue of sovereignty is essential “not only for security… but first and foremost for justice,” offering a blessing “from Mount Gerizim and Mount Eival, from Joseph’s Tomb, Hebron, Shiloh, and all the holy places,” telling the lawmakers: “Any nation that blesses the people of Israel — God will bless it.”

Gidley said, “It is a great honor for me to support Israel and do everything in my power to change the narrative… The ‘Judea and Samaria Act’ changes the narrative from the ‘West Bank’ and in fact calls this area by its true name. It is Judea and Samaria, not the West Bank. It belongs to the people of Israel.”

Todd said he was “more than happy to legislate the law,” adding that during his visit he was struck by how Israelis “just want to live in peace,” even alongside neighbors with “aggressive beliefs.” He said the land “was given to you by God… and should be entirely under the control of the people of Israel.”

Last week, a delegation of twenty senior U.S. lawmakers  including National Legislative Council president Jason Rapert toured Samaria and visited Kever Yosef in Shechem, as additional states such as Florida and Arkansas also advanced similar bills.