US Lawmakers Visit West Bank Settlements, Vow Legislative Support
Translated & summarized from Srugim by baba
A bipartisan U.S. congressional delegation visited new settlements in the northern West Bank, hosted by the Shomron Regional Council. The lawmakers expressed strong support for Israel and the settlements, vowing to advance legislation in their home states. Key legislative goals include officially recognizing "Judea and Samaria" over "West Bank" and opposing boycotts against Israeli businesses. The visit is part of a broader effort by the Shomron Council to promote such legislation across approximately 16 U.S. states, with some already achieving legislative success.
The story in 7 lines · by baba
- A bipartisan U.S. delegation visited new settlements in the northern West Bank to express support for Israel.
- U.S. lawmakers plan to advance legislation recognizing "Judea and Samaria" and opposing boycotts of Israeli businesses.
- The visit was hosted by Yossi Dagan, head of the Shomron Regional Council, who aims to translate U.S. support into action.
- U.S. House member Chase Tramont called the settlers "the front line" and emphasized restoring original place names.
- U.S. House member Tom Oliverson stated "West Bank" is an artificial construct and "Judea and Samaria" are the accurate terms.
- Senator Keith Kelly's first visit to the region changed his perspective on the land's belonging to Jews and Israel.
- Tennessee has already passed a law using "Judea and Samaria" exclusively in official documents.
A bipartisan delegation of U.S. senators and House representatives visited new settlements in the northern West Bank on the third anniversary of the October 7th attacks. The visit, hosted by Yossi Dagan, head of the Shomron Regional Council, aimed to strengthen the settlements and express support for Israel. The lawmakers, representing states including Florida, Illinois, Texas, Indiana, Missouri, and Alabama, toured locations such as "State Balcony" in Pedu'el, the newly established settlement of Eival, Mazah Yehoshua, and a viewpoint overlooking Joseph's Tomb.
During the visit, U.S. House member Chase Tramont from Florida emphasized the settlers' role as "the front line." Following the tour, the delegation is expected to advance legislation in their respective states. This includes measures to recognize "Judea and Samaria" as the sole official term, replacing "West Bank," and to penalize entities boycotting Israeli businesses. Tramont stated that this legislative effort aims to restore the original names, linking "Jew" to "Judea" and countering attempts to erase the Jewish connection to the land.
U.S. House member Tom Oliverson from Texas echoed these sentiments, calling "West Bank" an artificial geopolitical construct and asserting that "Judea and Samaria" are the geographically and historically accurate terms for the area, which he considers part of Israel. He anticipates passing legislation to remove "West Bank" from official language.
Senator Keith Kelly from Alabama, on his first visit to Judea and Samaria, expressed how the experience transformed his perspective, stating, "This land definitely belongs to the Jews and to Israel." He connected the current situation to the region's history, emphasizing the need for a global recognition of its true nature.
Dagan highlighted the bipartisan nature of support for the Shomron region in the U.S. and stressed the importance of translating this support into legislation and action. He framed the effort as a fight for sovereignty and recognition, aiming to build settlements and expand support for Israel against those seeking to boycott and undermine its rights.
The Shomron Regional Council has been actively working with U.S. legislative groups, coordinating efforts in approximately 16 states. This initiative has already seen success, with Tennessee passing a law mandating the use of "Judea and Samaria" in official documents. Arizona has passed a resolution on the matter, and similar legislation is progressing in West Virginia and Florida, with an expectation that ten more states will pass such laws this year. Bills have also been officially submitted in Alabama, Florida, Oklahoma, and Georgia.
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