Donald J. Trump's reascension to the presidency has invigorated right-wing factions both in Israel and the U.S. pushing for the annexation of the West Bank, territory with longstanding claims from Palestinians and global observers who envision it as part of a future Palestinian state.
In a notable legislative move on Friday, Republican members of Congress introduced bills aimed at eliminating the term "West Bank" from official U.S. government communications and substituting it with "Judea and Samaria," a label that resonates with Israel's historical narratives surrounding the territory captured during the 1967 war.
The initiative is designed to bolster support for Israel's asserted rights over this land and comes in the midst of a surge in Israeli military operations aimed at combating terrorism within these areas. Senator Tom Cotton from Arkansas expressed in a statement the importance of reframing the narrative, stating that the Jewish people have historical and legal rights to these territories.
Representative Claudia Tenney of New York, another key proponent of this legislation, announced the formation of the new "Friends of Judea and Samaria Caucus," which aims to further policies in support of Israeli control over these areas. Tenney remarked that they are working to "reaffirm Israel’s rightful claim to its territory," voicing the intent behind both the bill introduction and the caucus formation.
This legislation, first proposed by Tenney last year, is tabled again in a markedly transformed political landscape where Trump has affirmed his pro-Israel stance and Republicans now oversee Congress with slender majorities in both chambers. The policy push reflects a stark alignment with Trump’s prior proposals for annexation during his first term, underlining the changing dynamics surrounding Middle East politics in the U.S.
