The term “West Bank” is used so widely that one might get the impression that it has some real historical significance. Those who rally together, calling for Israel to pull out of this area and allow the establishment of a Palestinian State here, would like you to believe that one previously existed and that Israel took it over and closed it down. The narrative presumes that people will believe it without question and will not ask for any proof. Amazingly, that strategy has worked pretty well so far.
Many people do not expect to be lied to by TV announcers and academics, and so they just take the narrative at face value. Even people who support Israel often do not realize how un-related to fact many of these claims against Israel are. So Israel’s supporters are more often put on the defensive, trying to point out the good deeds that Israel is doing in the world as a way to cover up for actions that they do not know how to explain.
But, in fact, the West Bank narrative really has little foundation. It only appeared on the stage of history in 1948, when the Hashemite army of Trans-Jordan crossed over its own western border, the Jordan River, which it is named for. The army of Trans-Jordan did so as part of the joint Arab effort to destroy the newly founded Jewish State and push the Jews into the sea.
The line of defense that the Jewish army succeeded in holding as they defended Tel Aviv from invasion was later dubbed “The Green Line” because it was marked with green colored crayon on the map that was used at the signing of the Armistice Agreement between Israel and its neighbors in 1949 on the Greek island of Rhodes. In that agreement, the Arab side refused to define the green line as a recognized border, but only as an agreed ceasefire line – nothing more.
The Hashemite Kingdom of Trans-Jordan tried to annex their newfound land west of the Jordan River by imposing their laws and naturalizing the Arab residents of the area. They went so far as to change the name of the country to Jordan, removing the prefix “Trans” as a way to hide the fact that they belong on the east side of the river, but not on both.
Israel’s heartland
Jordan's occupation and annexation of “their” West Bank was not recognized by the international community, or even sanctioned by the Arab League. Only Great Britain and Pakistan backed the move. During the 19 years of Jordanian occupation of the West Bank, not one move was made to establish a Palestinian State there. On the contrary, the PLO was founded during that period, with the stated goal of ridding the rest of the land of Israel (pre-1967) of the Jewish State.
So actually, we see that the term “West Bank,” which only came about as result of Jordan's imperialist effort to expand its borders at the cost of the Jewish State, is only as old as the State of Israel. Before the Jordanian invasion, this region was always called Judea and Samaria. That can clearly be seen on maps published throughout history.
Next time you hear people talking about the “West Bank,” ask them if they have any idea when and why this term was coined. Point out that Judea and Samaria are Israel's heartland, and inform them that most of the main events of the Bible occurred here.
Some 10% of Israel's population has made their homes, built schools, businesses and communities in this area that is 30% of the State of Israel’s size. Just glance at a topographical map to realize the strategic importance of this mountain ridge to the very narrow State of Israel. With only 70 kilometers from the Jordan River to the sea in Tel Aviv, and Samaria taking up 55 of those kilometers, understand that all of Israel would be only 15 kilometers wide without it. This is entirely too close for comfort and security.
When you hear talk of the West Bank, remember: This is Israel's heartland – Judea and Samaria.
Tags: Palestinian Terror State
Excellent!
Another significant aspect of the term, not usage, west bank is that trans Jordan (meaning east of Jordan river)was illegally created by British to be Jew free and Jews were banned from settlement east of the jordan river whereas Jews were to be "encouraged" to settle west of the jordan river. Regardless of negotiations of Israeli sovereignty the Jews have the right to settle any where east of the Jordan river and any Jewish exclusion is illegal by international law(san remo LofN, UN Charter). Any govt in control of the west bank is obligated under law to encourage Jewish settlement. The govt of Israel, along with the UN) has breached that legal right of Jewish, not necessarily, Israeli settlement.
This issue shouldn’t even have to come up. I have always known that
Judah and Samaria are Israel’s. “West Bank” shouldn’t even be
mentioned.
If newspapers in Israel stopped using the term West Bank" that fact alone might help people learn some of the history. When Israel re-took the lands during the Six Day War, it was because Jordan's king thought to impress his friends in Syria and Egypt by helping drive Jews from the rest of the land of Israel. All three countries failed in their efforts. Incidentally, the writer ignores one salient fact: the Arab army from TransJordan that took Judea, Samaria and parts of Jerusalem in the 1948 war was led by a British officer John Glubb, later knighted for his success in driving Jews from their homes. Is it any wonder that Britain supported Jordan's temporary takeover of the lands originally granted to Jews. After all, earlier in the 20th century., Britain had illegally created the nation of TransJordan to help the Hashemite Bedouin who had been driven out by the Saudis.
Thank God for the above remarks. At last the truth is being spelt out! This is long overdue! The term 'West Bank' was only made for political reasons to replace the true historical names of Judea and Samaria which has a Jewish heritage.