House Foreign Affairs Committee Chair Mandates Use of “Judea and Samaria” for Israel’s Biblical Heartland

House Foreign Affairs Committee Chair Mandates Use of “Judea and Samaria” for Israel’s Biblical Heartland

Edited by: Fern Sidman

In a significant shift in congressional language on Israeli-Palestinian affairs, House Foreign Affairs Committee Chair Rep. Brian Mast (R-Fla.) has instructed Republican staffers to refer to the West Bank by its biblical name, Judea and Samaria. The directive, which applies to all “formal correspondence, communication, and documentation” within the committee’s GOP staff, reflects a broader ideological stance that aligns with Israel’s historical and religious claims over the territory. As was reported by The Hill on Wednesday, the move illustrates the evolving dynamics of U.S. policy toward Israel, particularly as President Trump considers whether to support Israeli annexation of Judea and Samaria.

The term Judea and Samaria has long been used by many of Israel’s religious factions, as well as by its government, to emphasize the Jewish historical and biblical connections to the land. It was first used and promoted by the late Israeli Prime Minister Menachem Begin decades ago.

According to the information provided in the report at The Hill, the Israeli government continues to use the term in official discourse, despite widespread international recognition of the West Bank as purported Israeli-occupied territory. The region was liberated from Jordanian rule during the 1967 Six-Day War, but under the 1993 Oslo Peace Accords, it was divided into areas controlled by Israel and the Palestinian Authority, with the expectation that portions would eventually become part of a future Palestinian state.

Mast’s directive aligns with a pro-Israel ideological perspective that disputes the notion of Israeli “occupation” and instead asserts Israel’s rightful claim to the land based on biblical, historical, and security considerations. The report at The Hill noted that this linguistic shift is emblematic of broader Republican efforts to strengthen U.S.-Israel relations and push back against narratives that delegitimize Israeli sovereignty over the territory.

In his memo, Mast explained that his decision was rooted in the belief that the Jewish people have an “inherent right” to their ancient homeland. He emphasized that referring to the region as Judea and Samaria reflects the United States’ “unbreakable bond” with Israel. As The Hill reported, this decision does not extend to Democratic staffers on the House Foreign Affairs Committee, highlighting the partisan divide over U.S. policy toward Israel and the disputed territories.

This move by Mast follows broader Republican trends in supporting Israel’s sovereignty over the territories, particularly during the previous Trump administration, which recognized Israeli sovereignty over the Golan Heights in 2019 and moved the U.S. Embassy to Jerusalem in 2018.

President Trump is expected to announce by early March 2025 whether he would support Israel’s annexation of Judea and Samaria, a move that could have significant implications for regional stability. The Hill reported that during his first term, Trump blocked Israel from annexing the territory, despite endorsing Israeli sovereignty over other areas. With escalating Palestinian violence directed at Israelis following the October 7th Hamas attack, the debate over annexation has gained renewed urgency.

 The majority of the international community continues to view the West Bank as Israeli-occupied, citing Israel’s dominant control over security, infrastructure, and economic activity in the region. However, as the report at The Hill noted, voices within the Republican Party are increasingly advocating for policies that align with Israeli sovereignty of all of the areas in dispute.

In response to increasing Palestinian terrorist activity in Judea and Samaria which is home to hundreds of thousands of Jewish settlers, Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz ordered tanks into terrorist hotbeds such as Jenin and Tukaram for the first time in 20 years, marking a significant escalation in Israel’s military operations. As The Hill report indicated, these military actions have targeted Palestinian terrorist groups operating areas of Judea and Samaria that have become hubs of deadly violence.

This increased Israeli military presence reflects growing security concerns about Palestinian terrorist groups and their ties to Hamas and Iranian-backed organizations. It also highlights the volatile nature of the so-called West Bank, where armed Palestinian terrorists frequently clash with Israeli settlers over land rights, security, and sovereignty.

Mast’s directive to rename the West Bank Judea and Samaria is more than a semantic shift—it signals a broader political realignment that could influence future U.S. foreign policy toward Israel. According to the report at The Hill, this move may further cement Republican support for legitimate Israeli claims over the territory, potentially influencing legislative efforts, foreign aid allocations, and diplomatic positions in the years ahead.