Following Arkansas’s example, Florida‘s Senate moved to ban the term “West Bank” in schools and public agencies through a bill that prohibited the production of any material using the term. The “Judea and Samaria Act” (Yehuda v’Shomron), which emphasizes the region as the heartland of the ancient Jewish kingdom, stated, “An act to create the recognizing Judea and Samaria act; to prohibit state agencies from using the term ‘West Bank’ in official government materials; and for other purposes.” This move was not just symbolic — it took a stand on a long-disputed issue that many debated.
Florida legislation, advanced by Florida lawmakers, closely mirrored the Arkansas law passed in April 2025. Other states followed suit, including Utah, which also looked to ban the terminology from its official materials and schools that taught kindergarten through 12th grade. Further, if passed, state agencies, including universities and colleges, would be prohibited from using the term “West Bank.” This measure mandated that all official state government communications, along with any new instructional or library resources in K-12 public schools, adhere to these standards by utilizing the historically accurate term “Judea and Samaria.”
The “West Bank” is the internationally recognized term for the Israeli-occupied Palestinian territory west of the Jordan River that was seized from Jordan by Israel in 1967. Critics who are pro-Palestine saw it as an attempt to erase the territory’s identity, history, and ties to the land. However, it was merely a return to historical and biblical naming conventions. The terms Judea and Samaria, as well as Israel, had historical roots that predated Palestine by more than 1,000 years. Consequently, this legislative change represented a restoration of ancient historical truths rather than an erasure of any contemporary terminology. Using the term ‘West Bank’ functions as a form of erasure, specifically targeting the ancient Jewish history and religious significance inherent to the land.
Furthermore, it was a shift from the terms popularized by legacy media following the 1967 conflict. Instead of using the biblically significant names that existed for more than 3,000 years, the media turned it into a political term used to disregard biblical history.
Ultimately, Arkansas and Florida sought to continue this movement, which was more than just a change in vernacular — it was a formal recognition of the land’s deep-seated historical and biblical identity. More than that, it was a rejection of a term mainly popularized by left-wing media within the last several decades in favor of names that defined the region for more than three millennia. These states chose to honor the historical and biblical significance that these lands possessed.
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Florida and Arkansas led the charge, with several states following suit, taking a stand in the long-running and divisive dispute. Utah, Alabama, and Oklahoma also looked to join the movement. This shift follows numerous terrorist attacks against Israel incited by Hamas, a Palestinian-based terrorist group, which has served as the de facto governing authority in the Gaza Strip since 2007. The most recent attack was a coordinated assault on Oct. 7, 2023. That assault involved breaking through the Gaza-Israel barrier, resulting in more than 1,200 deaths and the taking of 251 hostages. Of the twelve Americans taken into captivity, six were killed by the terrorist organization. The event began the Gaza-Israel war, which is currently struggling to hold a ceasefire.
Ultimately, this legislative shift is more than just policy, it shows an alignment with historical truth rather than mainstream movement. By taking this stand, these states are securing a future where education is rooted in accurate biblical history instead of being determined by political trends or mainstream movements. It ensures that the next generation of the public understands the historical context connected to the land and not through the lens of the 1967 conflict.