Tom Cotton seeks to erase the term 'West Bank' from federal use

In the United States, Senator Tom Cotton from Arkansas introduced a bill on December 5, 2024, aimed at replacing the term 'West Bank' with 'Judea and Samaria' in federal government communications. The proposed legislation, titled the 'Retiring the Egregious Confusion Over the Genuine Name of Israel’s Zone of Influence by Necessitating Government-use of Judea and Samaria Act,' seeks to prohibit federal funds from being used to describe the land annexed by Israel from Jordan during the 1967 Six-Day War as the 'West Bank,' except in international agreements or treaties. Cotton emphasized the historical and legal claims of the Jewish people to Judea and Samaria, arguing that the term 'West Bank' is politically charged and undermines Israel's historical presence in the region. Many Republicans support the terminology of Judea and Samaria, viewing it as a reflection of Israel's biblical heritage, while Democrats often use the term 'West Bank,' which is seen as more neutral. Former U.S. Ambassador to Israel David Friedman and several Republican representatives praised the bill, reinforcing Cotton's call to honor Israel’s historical claims. The debate surrounding the nomenclature is symptomatic of the broader partisan divide in U.S. politics regarding the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, illustrating how language can influence political narratives and sentiments toward the region. As Israel's historical narrative continues to be a focal point within U.S. foreign policy, Cotton's proposal serves to assert a particular viewpoint on Israel's rights to its territories, potentially affecting bipartisan relations over Middle Eastern policies.