On Wednesday, 71 of the 120 members of the Knesset, Israel’s parliament, approved a motion supporting the application of Israeli sovereignty over the regions of Judea, Samaria, and the Jordan Valley
The proposal, presented by Dan Illouz (Likud), Simcha Rothman (Religious Zionism), Limor Son Har-Melech (Otzma Yehudit), and Oded Forer (Yisrael Beiteinu), received only 13 votes against.
The motion emphasizes that “Judea, Samaria, and the Jordan Valley are inseparable parts of the Land of Israel, the historical, cultural, and spiritual homeland of the Jewish people.” The text recalls that, long before the creation of the modern State of Israel, these regions were inhabited by the ancestors and prophets of the Jewish people, where the foundations of Jewish faith and culture were laid.
Cities like Hebron, Nablus (Shechem), Shiloh, and Beit El are described as “living expressions of the continued Jewish presence in the land.”
The motion, called a “suggestion for discussion on the agenda,” does not commit the government to action, but is a symbolic milestone.
Dan Illouz stated that, for the first time, the Knesset expressed official support for sovereignty in Judea and Samaria.
“The message is clear: these regions are not bargaining chips; they are the heart of our country.
This is the beginning of a national decision.
The world respects clear positions on our right to the Land of Israel,” he told JNS.
Yisrael Ganz, governor of the Binyamin Regional Council and chairman of the Yesha Council, which represents Jewish communities in Judea and Samaria, celebrated the approval as proof of the national desire to affirm Israel’s values and rights over the region.
“This vote is an important milestone in strengthening the security of the entire State of Israel.
I urge the government to make this decision a reality,” Ganz said.
Supporters of the motion, such as the Sovereignty Movement, founded in 2010 by Nadia Matar and Yehudit Katzover, called the approval a historic moment, the culmination of years of efforts, including demonstrations, conferences, and proposals.
They urged the Jerusalem government to move forward with implementation.
On Monday, hundreds of Israelis, including ministers and parliamentarians, gathered in the Knesset for a conference that pressured the government to immediately extend Israeli law to areas liberated by Israel in the 1967 Six-Day War.
In May, the parliament had already approved a declaration supporting sovereignty, but with few members present.
In February 2024, the Knesset voted 99 to 11 in favor of a government decision rejecting any unilateral recognition of a Palestinian state.
The measure was supported by all coalition members and most Zionist opposition parties, who oppose “international impositions on a permanent settlement with the Palestinians.”
Recently, the Israeli government warned European countries that unilateral recognition of a Palestinian state could lead Israel to extend sovereignty over parts of Judea and Samaria.
Since December 2022, Benjamin Netanyahu’s government has promoted an unprecedented expansion of Jerusalem’s control in these areas, reportedly approving 41,709 housing units and 50 new Jewish communities.
While the motion is non-binding, it reinforces political support for sovereignty in areas considered central to Israel’s history and identity, but which are also the subject of international disputes.
Published in 07/24/2025 04h10
Text adapted by AI (Grok) and translated via Google API in the English version. Images from public image libraries or credits in the caption.
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