Judea and Samaria

This article refers to a District of Israel called Judea and Samaria. For historical regions of Judaea and Samaria see Judea or Samaria. For uses synonymous with the term "the West Bank", see that entry.

Judea and Samaria (Hebrew: יהודה ושומרון‎ Yehuda ve-Shomron , also an acronym יו"ש Yosh or ש"י Shai; Arabic: اليهودية والسامرة al-Yahudiyyah was-Sāmarah) are the Biblical names for the area now more commonly referred to as the West Bank. It is the official name of one of the seven Districts of Israel (not recognised by the UN).

The geographical area of Samaria roughly corresponds to the territory of the ancient Kingdom of Israel with the capital in Shomron (Sebastia), while Judea (also Judaea) corresponds to the Kingdom of Judah with the capital in Jerusalem. After about 80 years of United Monarchy under Kings David and Solomon, the United Kingdom of Israel and Judea split into two independent kingdoms that occasionally went to war with each other. Referral to them as a unit is dating from the modern period, specifically the time of their occupation and annexation by Jordan. However, prior to the Jordanian occupation, the United Nations General Assembly Resolution 181 passed on November 29, 1947 used the term "Samaria and Judea" as part of the description of the border between the proposed Jewish and Arab/Muslim states.

Sometimes, the term "Judea and Samaria" is employed to distinguish it from the "West Bank", the latter term now thought to include also East Jerusalem and stretches of what used to be no-man's land between Israel and the Jordan River's West Bank. Following the annexation of East Jerusalem by Israel, according to Israeli law, Judea and Samaria is considered Terra nullius^{[citation needed]}.

The names Judea and Samaria are also employed specifically as a collective term for the Jewish settlements in that area, historically and presently, especially by Jewish settlers and their supporters.^{[citation needed]} Many Arab Palestinians (Muslims) object to this term, which they perceive as a rejection of their claim to the land. Nevertheless, the term al-Yahudiyya was-Samarah is used by Arab Christians in reference to the Bible. ^[1]

Status

Main articles: West Bank#Status and West Bank

The United Nations considers Judea and Samaria ("the West Bank") Israeli-occupied territory, while Israel refers to it as "disputed territory". The Israeli government considers Judea and Samaria to provide Israel with essential security against attack by neighboring Arab countries [1]. However, for humanitarian reasons, among others, Israel has not annexed the entire region. Its mainly Arab inhabitants were never given citizenship by Jordan previously during the two decades the territory was under Jordanian government and military rule.

In the 2006 Israeli elections, parties advocating relinquishing parts or all of Judea and Samaria gained 64 out of 120 Knesset seats (Kadima, Labour, Meretz along with the Arab parties). However, due to a change in public opinion following the Second Lebanon War in July-August 2006, such plans are not part of the current agenda.

Cities

• Ariel אריאל
• Betar Illit ביתר עילית
• Ma'ale Adummim מעלה אדומים

Local councils

• Alfei Menashe אלפי מנשה
• Beit Arieh בית אריה
• Bet El בית אל
• Efrat אפרת
• Elkana אלקנה
• Giv'at Ze'ev גבעת זאב
• Har Adar הר אדר
• Immanuel עמנואל
• Karnei Shomron קרני שומרון
• Kedumim קדומים
• Kiryat Arba קריית ארבע
• Ma'ale Efraim מעלה אפרים
• Modi'in Illit מודיעין עילית
• Oranit אורנית

Regional councils

• Gush Etzion גוש עציון
• Har Hebron הר חברון
• Matte Binyamin מטה בנימין
• Megilot Dead Sea מגילות ים המלח
• Shomron שומרון
• Biq'at HaYarden בקעת הירדן

See also

• Judea
• Samaria
• West Bank
• Rule of the West Bank and East Jerusalem by Jordan
• Israeli-occupied territories
• Israeli-Palestinian conflict
• Israeli settlement
• 1949 Armistice Agreements

References

• "Judea and Samaria", The Jewish Agency for Israel, undated, retrieved August 31, 2005

Districts of Israel
Jerusalem District | North District | Haifa District | Center District | Tel Aviv District | South District | Judea and Samaria Area1 Note: (1) This division is not part of the state of Israel under Israeli or international law, but serves as an administrative unit of the Israeli government serving the Israeli settlements in the West Bank.

Judea and Samaria Area
Cities	Ariel | Beitar Illit | Ma'ale Adumim
Regional committees	Hebron
Local councils	Alfei Menashe | Beit Aryeh | Beit El | Efrat | Elkana | Giv'at Ze'ev | Har Adar | Immanuel | Karnei Shomron | Kedumim | Kiryat Arba | Ma'ale Efraim | Modi'in Illit | Oranit
Regional councils	Gush Etzion | Har Hebron | Matte Binyamin | Megilot Dead Sea | Shomron | Southern Jordan Valley (Biq'at HaYarden)

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