Florida bill seeks to ban use of ‘West Bank’ in schools and state agencies

Florida legislators are considering a bill, called the Recognizing Judea and Samaria Act, to ban the use of the term "West Bank" in K-12 public schools and state agencies, including public colleges and universities, and mandate the use of "Judea and Samaria" instead. The "West Bank" is the internationally recognized term for the Israeli-occupied Palestinian territory west of the Jordan River. The bill aims to recognize Jewish historical claims to the land, aligning with the right-wing Israeli government's terminology. This legislation follows similar efforts in other states, like Arkansas, and is part of a broader trend in Florida of restricting certain topics in school materials, including LGBTQ+ themes, race-based issues, and climate change. Supporters argue the bill combats the erasure of Jewish links to the land, while opponents express concerns about its potential impact and implications.

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