Residents of Judea and Samaria thank IDF soldiers during rally. Photo: Michal Avior/Tazpit News Agency.

While many international governments and the media wrongly refer to areas of Israel as “occupied territories,” the reality is that the Jews have historic claims and ties to this area of Israel.

The Jewish legal, moral, political, historical, and biblical right to Judea and Samaria (the “West Bank”) throughout history is very clear. There are countless people who understand and speak clearly on the fact that this area belongs to the sovereign State of Israel.

Some quotes to remember:

“We have to get out of this mindset that somehow you can buy peace in the Middle East by giving little plots of land. It has not worked before when it has been offered.” – Senator Jim Inhofe

“It was ground that was gained during war. Should we give Texas back to Mexico? Bottom line, it is legitimately Israeli country.” – Senator Rick Santorum

“Israel maintains a strong legal claim to the West Bank, superior to all other claims, based on the League of Nations Mandate for Palestine, Resolution 242 and basic principles of International law.” – Ari Lieberman

“Israel, including Judea and Samaria, has been the land of the Jews since time immemorial. Judea means Land of the Jews. Never in the history of the world has there been an autonomous state in the area that was not Jewish.” – Geert Wilders

“When we [Israelis] say that this is a political conflict, then we lose the battle…[it should be remembered that the ancient land of Israel is] given to us by the Bible, not by some United Nations.” – Major Adrian Agassi

“It is at this place where God appeared to Abram and said, ‘I am giving you this land’ — the West Bank.” – Senator Jim Inhofe

“340,000 Israelis live on the land that Israel won in defeating the Arab states’ 1967 attack on Israel, which was aimed at destroying the state and driving all Jews out of the Middle East.” – Mark Trencher

“We find it in the Bible that it is not called the West Bank. Although it is on the west bank of the Jordan [River], we know it is Judea and Samaria.” – Dean Bye

“On the hills of Judea [and] Samaria, the Jewish people were born and that’s where it all started.” – Israel’s Economy Minister, MK Naftali Bennett

“Israel’s legal claims to the West Bank are rooted in the San Remo Conference of 1920, an international meeting of the post-World War I Allied Supreme Council.” – Ari Lieberman

“Israel is, and it must continue to be, the homeland of the entire Jewish people, the entire Jewish people.” – Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu

“When the West Bank and Gaza were under Jordanian autonomy from 1948 to 1967, there was not any effort to create a separate Palestinian state. The PLO was formed during that time, not for the purpose of creating a Palestinian State, but rather for the purpose of exterminating the Jewish state.” – Dr. David R. Reagan