Florida Lawmakers Push to Outlaw 'West Bank' Terminology in State Institutions
Florida legislators are actively pursuing a controversial bill that would ban the use of the term "West Bank" in K-12 public schools and all state agencies, including public colleges and universities. The proposed legislation would mandate the exclusive use of the biblical term "Judea and Samaria" in official materials, following a similar measure that was enacted in Arkansas last year.
International Context and Political Significance
The West Bank is the internationally recognised term for the Israeli-occupied Palestinian territory west of the Jordan River, which Israel seized from Jordan in 1967. In contrast, the right-wing Israeli government refers to the area as "Judea and Samaria", drawing on biblical references to ancient Israelite kingdoms to strengthen historical and religious claims to the land. The international community largely views the West Bank as occupied territory that should form part of a future Palestinian state.
Since the first Trump administration, many US Republicans have embraced the term "Judea and Samaria". Former Arkansas governor Mike Huckabee, whom Donald Trump appointed as ambassador to Israel last year, has been a prominent advocate. Arkansas became the first US state to mandate this terminology change in state institutions in April last year. While similar bills have been proposed in the US Congress, they have not yet come to a vote.
Specifics of the Florida Legislation
Florida's proposed Recognizing Judea and Samaria Act is notable for being the only such bill to explicitly target K-12 schools. If passed, it would:
- Prohibit state agencies, including universities and colleges, from using the term "West Bank" in any official government materials.
- Require all new instructional or school library materials in K-12 public schools to comply with the law and use the term "Judea and Samaria".
This initiative comes amid a broader trend in Florida of imposing restrictive changes to school textbooks and library materials. Recent years have seen legislation targeting:
- LGBTQ+ and race-based themes.
- Climate change and social justice issues, including the Black Lives Matter movement.
- Critical race theory.
- Descriptions of socialism.
Divergent Perspectives and Heated Debate
Lake Worth Democratic representative Debra Tendrich, who is Jewish and one of the sponsors of HB 31, argues that the bill is necessary to combat what she perceives as the "erasure" of Jewish connections to the land. "Jordan coined the term West Bank, not for any other reason than to erase the Jewish connection from this land," she told the House state affairs committee last week.
However, Democratic representative Angie Nixon of Jacksonville countered that the proposal "could be seen as an attack, an erasure of the Palestinian people". Adam Abutaa, Florida organising manager with the Muslim-American advocacy group Emgage Action, added that the change "elevates one narrative while erasing another, restricting how educators, researchers, and public institutions can speak about a region recognised by the US government and the international community".
William Johnson, PEN America's Florida director, emphasised the human impact: "This bill does not operate in the abstract; it touches people's histories, families, and lived realities. Our state is home to thousands of Palestinian Americans, many of whom have deep ties to the West Bank. At a time of rising anti-Muslim and anti-Palestinian rhetoric, the legislation sends a worrying signal that some Floridians' identities and experiences fall outside the bounds of recognition and belonging."
Legislative Progress and Political Landscape
The House version of the bill, HB 31, was advanced by the House state affairs committee on 27 January and now awaits debate on the House floor. The parallel Senate effort, SB 1106, is still pending committee review before it can proceed to a vote. Republicans currently control both chambers of the Florida legislature, which may influence the bill's trajectory.
This legislative move highlights the ongoing cultural and political battles over language, education, and identity in Florida, reflecting broader national debates about historical narratives and international diplomacy.
