Judea and Samaria

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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 (Yehuda VeShomron , also an acronym יו"ש Yosh or ש"י Shai; 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.

The term "Judea and Samaria" is also employed specifically as a collective reference to the Jewish settlements in that area, historically and presently, especially by Jewish settlers and their supporters. 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.

Status

The United Nations and most of the international community considers Judea and Samaria (the West Bank) as territory illegally occupied by Israel.

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 2006 Israel-Lebanon conflict in July-August 2006, such plans are not part of the current agenda.

Administrative sub-regions

Cities	Local Councils	Regional Councils
Ariel Betar Illit Ma'ale Adummim Modi'in Illit	Alfei Menashe Beit Arieh Bet El Efrat Elkana Giv'at Ze'ev Har Adar Immanuel Karnei Shomron Kedumim Kiryat Arba Ma'ale Efraim Oranit	Gush Etzion Har Hebron Matte Binyamin Megilot Dead Sea Shomron Biq'at HaYarden

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

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Last updated on Sunday March 09, 2008 at 20:23:46 PDT (GMT -0700)
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