Israel’s Sovereignty Over Judea and Samaria: A Path to Lasting Peace

By Tony Perkins

In Matthew Chapter 5, Jesus declared, “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.” As a nation rooted in biblical principles, America should champion peace. The Trump administration’s efforts to broker stability in the Mideast align with this mission, but true peace requires truth and righteousness.

The Israeli Knesset’s recent steps to assert sovereignty over Judea and Samaria have drawn criticism from U.S. officials like Vice President J.D. Vance, who called the move a “political stunt.” Vance reaffirmed the Trump administration’s stance that the West Bank will not be annexed by Israel. However, enduring peace in the Mideast hinges on dismantling false narratives that enable violence.

The term “West Bank” is a deceptive construct, ignoring the land’s biblical name—Judea and Samaria. This region, central to Scripture, has become a hub for terror. Over the past two years, 128 deadly attacks and over 1,000 attempted assaults have occurred in Palestinian Authority-controlled areas of Judea and Samaria, which cover 40% of the region.

The Gaza Peace Plan’s Phase One, which exchanged 2,000 imprisoned terrorists for 20 hostages, risks emboldening militants by relocating them to Ramallah. History warns of recurring cycles of violence: the First and Second Intifadas, launched from Judea and Samaria, lasted over a decade.

For Israel to achieve stability, it must reject illusions of a Palestinian state within its borders. Sovereignty over Judea and Samaria—land promised to Israel—is essential for peace anchored in truth, not deception.

Tony Perkins is president of Family Research Council and executive editor of The Washington Stand.