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The West Bank is not Israeli-occupied territory, just disputed territory; The US governor’s statement is controversial
New York: US Governor Ron DeSantis made a controversial comment about the Israeli-occupied West Bank.
Ron DeSantis, the Republican governor of Florida, said the West Bank is not occupied or occupied by Israel, just disputed territory.
The governor’s statement was made while attending the Republican-Jewish coalition’s annual convention in Las Vegas, Nevada, on Nov. 19.
“The West Bank is ‘disputed, unoccupied territory’, historically Jewish land. I don’t care what the US State Department says on the matter.
It is not occupied territory but disputed territory. You have to know the history,” said Ron DeSantis.
DeSantis is also a potential candidate for the 2024 US presidential election.
DeSantis’ statement is seen as advocating for Israeli settlement construction in the occupied Palestinian territories, which is considered illegal under international law.
The response to DeSantis, contrary to longstanding US policy, has already been controversial.
DeSantis also used the Biblical names used by right-wing Israelis to describe the West Bank (Judea and Samaria region) when speaking of a trade mission leading to Israel.
The Area of Judea and Samaria is an administrative division of Israel. It is an area that includes the entire West Bank, which Israel has occupied since 1967.
But East Jerusalem is not included in the Jewish and Samaritan region.
At the same time, Prime Minister-designate Benjamin Netanyahu, who will head Israel’s new far-right government, issued a new statement on Israeli settlements.
Netanyahu announced after a meeting with right-wing leader Itamar Ben Gvir that he would legalize all Israeli settlement outposts in the West Bank.
Featured Content: In America, Florida governor says West Bank is disputed territory and not occupied by Israel
