Israel Expands West Bank Control Amid Global Condemnation
Is Israel illegally occupying Palestinian territory or reclaiming its ancient biblical heartland?
Above: An Israeli flag above the Israeli settlement of Beit Romano, with Palestinian buildings in the background, in the city of Hebron on Feb. 9. Image credit: Hazem Bader/AFP/Getty Images
The Spin
Anti-Israel narrative
Israel's occupation of the West Bank is illegal under international law. The territory belongs to Palestine as a provisionally recognized state under the League of Nations mandate system, and Israel's presence violates Palestinian self-determination rights established nearly a century ago.
Pro-Israel narrative
Judea and Samaria represent the 3,000-year-old heartland of Jewish civilization, not occupied territory. These biblical regions are essential to Israel's security and survival, forming strategic highlands that protect the nation from invasion and maintain defensible borders.
