Judea and Samaria (Hebrew: יהודה ושומרון‎ Yehuda ve-Shomron , also an acronym יו"ש Yosh or ש"י Shai; Arabic: اليهودية والسامرة‎ al-Yahudiyyah was-Sāmarah) are the Biblical terms used to describe 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). Hebrew redirects here. ... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged with Backronym and Apronym (Discuss) Acronyms and initialisms are abbreviations, such as NATO, laser, and ABC, written as the initial letter or letters of words, and pronounced on the basis of this abbreviated written form. ... Arabic ( or just ), is the largest member of the family of Semitic branch of the Afro-Asiatic language family (classification: South Central Semitic) and is closely related to Hebrew, Amharic, and Aramaic. ... The Bible (From Greek βιβλια—biblia, meaning books, which in turn is derived from βυβλος—byblos meaning papyrus, from the ancient Phoenician city of Byblos which exported papyrus) is the sacred scripture of Christianity. ... Map of the districts of Israel There are six main districts of Israel, known in Hebrew as mehozot (מחוזות; singular: mahoz) and fifteen sub-districts known as nafot (נפות; singular: nafa). ...

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. Download high resolution version (330x715, 22 KB)Replacement map of the West Bank from CIA Factbook - public domain This image has been released into the public domain by the copyright holder, its copyright has expired, or it is ineligible for copyright. ... Download high resolution version (330x715, 22 KB)Replacement map of the West Bank from CIA Factbook - public domain This image has been released into the public domain by the copyright holder, its copyright has expired, or it is ineligible for copyright. ... It has been suggested that Sebastia, Middle East be merged into this article or section. ... Commonwealth of Israel redirects here. ... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged with Samaria. ... Map of the southern Levant, c. ... Kingdom of Judah (Hebrew מַלְכוּת יְהוּדָה, Standard Hebrew Malḫut Yəhuda, Tiberian Hebrew Malḵûṯ Yəhûḏāh) in the times of the Hebrew Bible, was the nation formed from the territories of the tribes of Judah, Simeon, and Benjamin after the Kingdom of Israel was divided, and was named after Judah... Panoramic view from Mt. ... United Monarchy - Wikipedia /**/ @import /skins/monobook/IE50Fixes. ... David and Goliath by Caravaggio, c. ... Artists depiction of Solomons court (Ingobertus, c. ... Map of the West Bank today Rule of the West Bank and East Jerusalem by Jordan. ...

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 Jordan's West Bank. Following the annexation of East Jerusalem by Israel, according to Israeli law, Judea and Samaria is considered Terra nullius^{[citation needed]}. No mans land is a term for a land that is not occupied or more specifically land that is under dispute between parties that will not occupy it because of fear or uncertainty. ... Terra nullius (English pronunciation , Latin pronunciation [[IPA]])is a Latin expression deriving from Roman Law meaning no mans land or, literally, empty land. // Rationale As in Antiquity peace was considered an exceptional condition between states, only established by peace treaty, war being their natural rapport, any territory that was...

The names Judea and Samaria are also employed specifically as a collective term for the Jewish settlements in that area, especially by the settlers and their supporters. It is the official name of the area in the Israeli sources and the Hebrew media (with the exception of the left-wing Haaretz newspaper). Many Palestinians object to this term, which they perceive as a rejection of their rights to the land. Nevertheless, the term al-Yahudiyya was-Samarah is used by Arab Christians in reference to the Bible. ^[1] One of the most contentious issues in the Arab-Israeli Conflict has been the Israeli policy of sponsoring, supporting, and/or tolerating the establishment of Jewish communities in areas that came under Israeli control as a result of the 1967 Six Day War. ... Haaretz (Hebrew: (help· info), The Land) is an Israeli newspaper, founded in 1919. ... The term Palestinian has other usages, for which see definitions of Palestinian. ...

Status

Main article: Status section of the "West Bank" article

The United Nations considers Judea and Samaria ("the West Bank") Israeli-occupied territory, while Israel refers to it as "disputed territory". The Israeli government has argued that Judea and Samaria provide Israel with essential security against attack [1]; however, Israel's claim to the territory on this basis has been weakened by the refusal of all Israeli governments since 1967 to contemplate the idea of formally annexing it and granting Israeli citizenship to its Arab inhabitants. The West Bank (Hebrew: , Hagadah Hamaaravit, Arabic: ‎, ), is a landlocked territory on the west bank of the Jordan River in the Middle East. ... The United Nations (UN) is an international organization whose stated aims are to facilitate cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress and human rights issues. ...

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, following the Second Lebanon War in July-August 2006, such plans have been indefinitely stalled. The Elections for the 17th Knesset were held in Israel on 28 March 2006, following an agreement between the Prime Minister, Ariel Sharon, and the new leader of the Israel Labour Party, Amir Peretz. ... Kadima (Hebrew: קדימה, QādÄ«māh, forward) is an Israeli political party. ... Combatants Hezbollah Amal LCP Islamic Courts Union[4]  Israel Commanders Hassan Nasrallah (Secretary General of Hezbollah), veteran Fatah operative Imad Mughniyeh[5] Dan Halutz (CoS), Moshe Kaplinsky[13], Udi Adam (Regional) Strength 600-1,000 active fighters (of 3,000 - 5,000 available and 10,000 reservists) [6] 30,000...

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

Map of the southern Levant, c. ... It has been suggested that Sebastia, Middle East be merged into this article or section. ... Map of the West Bank today Rule of the West Bank and East Jerusalem by Jordan. ... The Golan Heights plateau overlooking the site of the ancient city of Hippos The Israeli-occupied territories is one of a number of terms used to describe areas captured by Israel from Egypt, Jordan, and Syria during the Six-Day War of 1967. ... The Israeli-Palestinian conflict, a part of the greater Arab-Israeli conflict, is an ongoing dispute between the State of Israel and Palestinian people. ... Map of Israeli settlements (magenta) in the West Bank. ... The 1949 Armistice Agreements are a set of agreements signed during 1949 between Israel and its neighbors Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon and Syria. ...

References

• "Judea and Samaria", The Jewish Agency for Israel, undated, retrieved August 31, 2005