Judea and Samaria

Judea and Samaria refers to lands named and described in the holy texts of Judaism, Christianity and Islam, parts of which are now in the area more widely referred to as the West Bank, which is claimed by Palestinians for a Palestinian state. The names are often used with reference to Israeli settlements in that area.

Related Topics:
Judea - Samaria - Judaism - Christianity - Islam - West Bank - Palestinian - Israeli settlement

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The area may be referred to as Judea and Samaria for political reasons by people wishing to emphasize Israel's claim. The use of these names may also serve as a reminder that, prior to the 1948 Arab-Israeli War, Jewish communities existed there, although these were destroyed or evacuated during the war, or in Hebron's case, during the 1929 riots.

Related Topics:
Israel - 1948 Arab-Israeli War - Hebron

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Against the Palestinian claim to the area, the Israeli government has argued that Judea and Samaria provide Israel with essential security against attack: the 1949 Israeli border left nine miles between the eastern border and the Mediterranean Sea, which houses over half of Israel's population and much of the country's industrial and economic infrastructure, including its energy and power installations. http://www.jafi.org.il/education/100/maps/judea.html

Related Topics:
1949 Israeli border - Mediterranean Sea

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