What is the West Bank? Occupied Territory or Israel’s Heartland?

Riddled with controversy, many people across the world have very strong opinions about what should be done with the West Bank. However, there’s a question that provides imperative context to this discussion. “What is the West Bank?”

If you were to hear the term “West Bank” you would likely have some knowledge that this region is an area that is highly disputed. On the other hand, if you were to hear the term “Judea and Samaria” you would most likely wonder where this place was.

Here’s the answer: the West Bank and Judea and Samaria are the same thing.

Why does this region have multiple names? That’s a little bit more tricky. The word “Judea” is derived from the word “Judah.” That name comes from the ancient Israelite tribe of Judah. Both “Judea” and “Samaria” have biblical connections and date back multiple millennia.

Where did the term “West Bank” originate? In 1948, Israel gained its statehood and had recognized borders reaching to the Jordan river. After the Arab-Israeli war, Jordan occupied Judea and Samaria. Jordan’s occupation was only recognized by two countries, Great Britain and Pakistan. No other nation supported Jordan’s occupation of Israel. Later, in 1988, Jordan completely reneged any claim to the West Bank.

After Israel’s miraculous victory in the 1967 Six-Day war, Israel regained sovereignty over this region that had priorly been pegged as the west bank of Jordan.

Modernly, “West Bank” is a convenient phrasing manipulation to better alter opinions of the region. It’s significantly easier to remove the Jews from the West Bank of Jordan than it is to remove the Jews from Judea.

Why is This Region so Controversial?

The reason for the controversy engulfing this region comes down to one single ideology: this is the location that people are attempting to designate as a Palestinian state.

This concept has partially been put into practice already. Despite the fact that Israel gained complete sovereignty over the region after they defeated the multiple Arab nations who had attacked them in 1967, their right to the area quickly came into question.

The Oslo Accords II were enacted in 1994. Over the course of three years, certain parts of the land would be gradually handed over to Palestinian governance and control. Then, after an additional two years, a final decision was to be reached. That deadline occurred 25 years ago.

What is in the West Bank?

Split into three parts, the West bank has a complicated governing situation. Here’s a brief breakdown:

Area A: Arab governed and under Arab military control.
Area B: Arab governed and under Israeli military control.
Area C: Israeli governed and under Israeli military control.

Here’s where the situation gets even more complex. Despite common beliefs, Arabs can receive permits that allow them to enter and work within Area C borders. On the other hand, large red signs are placed outside of Area A cities warning Jews that it is illegal for Israeli citizens to enter and that it would be dangerous to their lives.

What about Area B? At first glance, this designation appears to be more hospitable to both Jews and Arabs. Unfortunately, this is not the case. Though Area B is under Israeli security control, the IDF can’t be everywhere all the time. This results in a dangerous situation for Jews because many of the Arabs in Area B are just as hostile to the Jewish people as the Arabs in Area A. Every time a Jewish person enters this area, they are risking their lives. Many of the only roads that connect Jewish communities in Judea and Samaria are Area B, giving Jewish residents no option but to travel on them.

The West Bank’s Biggest Controversy

It’s understood that the Jewish people are allowed to build, live, and work within Area C. For some reason however the controversy only seems to be accentuated when they do exactly that. It’s controversial because one of the things that is most hated by the world and most loved by Bible-believers is to see the Jewish people dwell in their ancestral homeland.

Despite the hardships of attempting to settle their land, the Jewish people continue to persevere and press on towards the promises God gave them millennia ago.

Why Should You Care About the West Bank?

Now that you know what the West Bank is, the question remains: why should it matter to you?

One answer is simply that a significant portion of the Bible took place in Judea and Samaria, meaning that it is essential for Christians to support and encourage Jewish presence in this region. When you read the Bible, you may not be aware of the exact locations that many of these stories take place, so here are just a few examples:

When God audibly spoke His covenant to Abraham (Genesis 12)
The location of the Tabernacle (1 Samuel 4:3-4)
Where Jacob bought a plot of land (Genesis 33:18-20)
King David’s seven year rule before his kingship in Jerusalem (2 Samuel 5:4)
Joseph’s brothers sold him (Genesis 37:12, 27)
Joshua’s altar (Joshua 8:30)
Jericho’s walls fell (Joshua 6:20)
Jesus was born (Matthew 2:1; Luke 2:4)
Jesus met the woman at the well (John 4:4-5)
Abraham bought the plot of land to bury Sarah (Genesis 23:12-17)
Saul and Jonahan’s battle at Mikmas (1 Samuel 13:2)
Joseph’s tomb (Joshua 24:32)
The Holy Spirit descended (Acts 1:4-5; 2:3-4)
Many of the stories of Jesus and His disciples healing (Matthew 21:1; John 5: 2-8)
Jesus ran off the money changers in His Father’s house (Matthew 21:12-13)
Solomon was anointed king (1 Kings 1:38; 45)

These stories help to answer the initial question.