The Palestinians Don’t Deserve More of The ‘West Bank’
Inside the Cave of the Patriarchs in Hebron, Israel. Hebron is dubbed by some as part of the “West Bank.” Photo: Daniel Ventura. CC 4.0
3/9/2025, 12:43:09 PM
Evangelical Christians and some in the Jewish community are pushing the United States to recognize Israeli sovereignty over around 60% of Judea and Samaria (which some call the West Bank), land that is currently referred to as Area C under the Oslo Accords and is under Israel’s control. Though U.S. President Donald Trump has not stated his views on the matter, he has said that he will make an announcement sometime soon about the region.
The terrorist attacks in Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, were supported by more than 80% of Palestinian Arabs in Judea and Samaria, who maintain control of around 40% of the land there in areas known as A and B
An Israeli investigation found that there was an attempt to launch a major terror attack on Israel and Jewish residents in Area C by Palestinian Arab terrorists from Judea and Samaria, when, on Feb. 21, bombs were placed on at least five public buses and terrorists were ready to attack other mass transit units as well. The attack was foiled after a young woman found one of the devices and alerted a bus driver, and after other devices detonated 12 hours prematurely.
The attempted mass-casualty terrorist attacks and invasion were not a surprise as Areas A and B are under the Palestinian Authority led by Mahmoud Abbas. It was Abbas who passed a law known as “Pay for Slay” in which Palestinian terrorists receive financial incentives to murder Jews and Americans and are also celebrated as heroes in Palestinian society. Abbas’s behavior is not surprising given that he financed the notorious 1972 Olympic Munich massacre, which, to this day, he refuses to condemn; he is also the author of a book that denies the Holocaust.
The Palestinian Arab neighborhoods in Areas A and B contain virtually the entire Palestinian Arab population in Judea and Samaria, as well over 98% live there. Accordingly, there would be no demographic or security problem with the United States recognizing Israeli sovereignty over the remaining 60% of Judea and Samaria.
Those who oppose Israel’s recognition say that such acceptance would end any possibility of a Palestinian Arab state. However, as the world saw in Gaza on Oct. 7 with the Hamas attack and as the averted mass-casualty attack of Feb. 21 show, Palestinian Arabs do not want a state alongside Israel—they want to destroy Israel.
Recognition of Judea and Samaria as part of Israel would signal that the United States understands that not only is this ancient holy land legally and historically part of Israel, but it also was won by Israel in a defensive war in 1967 after being attacked by Jordan.
The Oct. 7 attacks show what Trump understands—that Israel needs to have secure borders, but Israel will not have secure borders without sovereignty over the 60% of Judea and Samaria that is currently referred to as Area C.
Trump went against conventional wisdom during his last term in office when he recognized Jerusalem as Israel’s capital. Instead of that declaration leading to war, Trump was able to bring Arab countries together with Israel under the Abraham Accords.
The recognition of Israeli sovereignty over Judea and Samaria would end the talk of a Palestinian Arab state and put to rest the insane view that such a state would be peaceful and democratic. The whole antisemitic call to “Free Palestine” is a call to destroy Israel and murder its 7 million Jews and make the land free of Jews. This is why the call to “Free Palestine” is usually accompanied by the chant, “From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free.”
It is in the United States’ interest to strengthen its allies and weaken its enemies. Hamas and the Palestinian Authority have shown with their actions and laws that their values are anathema to the values of this country. On the other hand, Israel has shown itself to be a military power and a strong ally of America.
Trump, who has shown this his lodestar is one of trying to make common-sense decisions, should proceed with recognizing Israeli sovereignty over Judea and Samaria.