By: Fern Sidman

The debate over Israeli sovereignty in Judea and Samaria has moved from the corridors of Jerusalem to Washington, where senior members of Congress will soon convene a hearing to address one of the most consequential issues facing U.S.-Israel relations.

Yesha Council Chairman Yisrael Ganz confirmed this week that Congress will hold a discussion next month on the application of Israeli sovereignty to Judea and Samaria, a development he described as nothing short of “historic.” According to a report that appeared on Sunday at The Jewish News Syndicate (JNS), Ganz, who is currently in the United States promoting the sovereignty plan, has spent the past week meeting with lawmakers and advocating for what he says is a necessary step to safeguard the future of the Jewish state.

“We are at a rare moment in time, with a friendly and supportive U.S. administration. This is the time to move forward with a historic step that will affect the security of the entire State of Israel,” Ganz declared, underscoring the urgency of the matter.

The push for sovereignty comes against the backdrop of violence in Israel. Last week’s terror attack in Jerusalem, which claimed the lives of six people—including a resident of the Binyamin Regional Council—has reignited calls among Israeli leaders to formally annex Judea and Samaria. Ganz, addressing the attack, warned that failure to extend sovereignty will allow terrorism to metastasize further into central Israel.

“Unless Israeli sovereignty is extended to Judea and Samaria, this is the reality that awaits us in Petah Tikva, Netanya, and Kfar Saba,” Ganz told reporters, according to the JNS report. His words reflect a long-standing argument made by the Yesha Council: that ambiguity regarding Israel’s status in the territories invites instability and emboldens terrorists.

During his trip to the United States, Ganz met with several Republican lawmakers known for their strong pro-Israel stances, including Representatives Marlin Stutzman (R-Ind.), Mike Lawler (R-N.Y.), Andrew Clyde (R-Ga.), Barry Moore (R-Ala.), Randy Fine (R-Fla.), and Senator Tom Cotton (R-Ark.).

“In my many meetings with our good friends in the United States, one can see the support and love for Israel,” Ganz said. “This is the time for a historic step that will change the balance of power in Judea and Samaria. I call on the government of Israel: this is the imperative of the hour; we must not miss it.”

Lawler, who chairs the Middle East and North Africa Subcommittee of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs, announced that the upcoming hearing will be explicitly dedicated to the future of Judea and Samaria. “Washington stands in solidarity with the Jewish people, with the people in Judea and Samaria, who have a right to live there,” he stated. “And I believe firmly in the importance of recognizing that right. And that’s why we will be holding a hearing next month about Judea and Samaria.”

Stutzman echoed that sentiment, telling JNS: “We are talking about the future of Israel and why it is so important that Judea and Samaria be under Israeli control. The shooting [in Jerusalem] shows again why it should be.”

The sovereignty debate coincides with renewed defiance from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who last week addressed an audience at Ma’ale Adumim, a city in Judea celebrating the signing of a major “umbrella agreement” with the government. The agreement will fund the construction of two new neighborhoods and expand a third, committing Jerusalem to provide billions of shekels for infrastructure and housing development.

At the festive signing ceremony, Netanyahu left no doubt about his government’s position on Palestinian statehood. “We said there will be no Palestinian state—indeed there will be no Palestinian state. This place is ours,” he told a cheering audience.

According to the information provided in the JNS report, the agreement provides for 7,000 new housing units, sufficient to accommodate some 30,000 residents, effectively doubling the city’s size within five years. For Netanyahu, the expansion is not only a matter of demographics but of national security and historical justice.

The timing of these developments is striking. Just days earlier, the United Nations General Assembly voted to adopt a resolution outlining a path toward recognition of a Palestinian state, a move Israeli ministers described as unacceptable. In the aftermath of the UN vote, several members of Netanyahu’s cabinet called for immediate annexation of Judea and Samaria as a direct rebuke to international efforts.

As JNS reported, the Israeli Foreign Ministry swiftly condemned the UN resolution, rejecting what it termed “foreign dictates” and characterizing demands to halt Jewish construction as discriminatory. “The historic right of Jews to live anywhere in the Land of Israel — the birthplace of the Jewish people — is indisputable,” the ministry declared. “This connection and right do not require the affirmation of foreign governments.”

The planned congressional hearing reflects not only bipartisan interest in Israel’s security but also recognition of the current political climate. With the Trump administration viewed by Israeli officials as exceptionally favorable, advocates argue that now is the moment to solidify gains.

For Ganz and his supporters, the hearing represents more than symbolic support. It signals that Washington is prepared to engage seriously on a matter long considered politically sensitive. If the United States embraces Israeli sovereignty in Judea and Samaria, it would mark a dramatic shift in U.S. foreign policy and likely reshape the dynamics of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

The JNS report noted that Ganz has worked tirelessly to convey to U.S. officials the dangers of hesitation. By stressing the costs of delay—terrorism, insecurity, and international delegitimization—he has sought to make sovereignty not merely an option but an imperative.

The sovereignty debate goes beyond political ideology. For Israelis living in Judea and Samaria, sovereignty would mean clarity and permanence. Currently, communities are often caught between conflicting international criticism and uncertain legal status. Applying sovereignty would extend Israeli law formally, granting full rights and protections to Jewish residents in these areas.

Critics argue that such a move would further isolate Israel diplomatically and extinguish any prospects for a two-state solution. Yet, as JNS has frequently highlighted, many in Israel view the two-state paradigm as obsolete, particularly after the October 7, 2023, Hamas massacre and subsequent war in Gaza. For Netanyahu’s government and the Yesha Council, sovereignty is framed as both a moral and security necessity.

The sovereignty push has also resonated among segments of the American Jewish community, particularly those aligned with pro-Israel advocacy groups that emphasize security and Jewish historical rights. While liberal organizations have expressed concerns about annexation undermining peace prospects, more conservative voices see the congressional hearing as a breakthrough moment.

JNS reported that Ganz has found considerable sympathy among American Jewish leaders during his U.S. visit. His message—that sovereignty is the only path to securing Israel’s future—appears to resonate strongly in the wake of rising antisemitism worldwide and continued Palestinian terror attacks.

The congressional hearing on Israeli sovereignty in Judea and Samaria promises to be a defining moment in the evolving U.S.-Israel relationship. Whether it produces concrete policy shifts remains uncertain, but it will undoubtedly elevate the issue to the forefront of international debate.

As Ganz put it, “This is the imperative of the hour; we must not miss it.” His urgency reflects a belief shared by many Israelis that sovereignty is not a question of if, but when.

For Netanyahu and his government, the Ma’ale Adumim agreement was more than a local development plan—it was a declaration of intent. And for their allies in Washington, the upcoming hearing offers an opportunity to align U.S. policy with Israel’s long-term vision for Judea and Samaria.

As the JNS report indicated, the coming weeks could well mark a watershed in the century-long struggle over the future of the land. Sovereignty, once a distant aspiration, is now firmly on the global agenda.