The way Western leaders speak about Judea and Samaria, the biblical heartland of Israel, remains a deeply contentious and complex issue.
Often referred to as the West Bank, this region is commonly seen to be at the center of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, with many seemingly well-intentioned leaders divided over how to view Israeli settlements, Palestinian rights, and Israel’s security concerns.
While most Western governments and media outlets argue for a two-state solution, a courageous few support Israel's right to build and maintain settlements in the area. This disparity in perspectives has fueled tension, misrepresentation, and a lack of understanding of the region’s historical, religious, and geopolitical significance.
In this article, we’ll explore the view of One Jewish State on this topic.
What is One Jewish State?
One Jewish State is a think tank founded by former U.S. Ambassador David Friedman that advances the case for Israeli sovereignty over Judea and Samaria.
The central theme surrounds the idea that the best way forward for Israel is to acknowledge the facts on the ground as they are, which is that land for peace has never worked and that there is no potential for a two-state solution.
Instead, it encourages Israel to declare sovereignty over Judea and Samaria and advance its own interests in the area. Doing this will also provide Palestinians who live there with peace, economic opportunity, and potential for prosperity.
The issue with land for peace
As Friedman explains in his book One Jewish State, the land-for-peace concept has rarely, if ever, been considered by any other nation in history. Even more, where Israel did give away land for peace, they often received terror in its stead.
“We know, with certainty, that land-for-peace deals involving Israel don’t work,” Friedman writes. “We know that because Israel has, in the past, endeavored to achieve peace on this basis without success".
“It began with southern Lebanon, extended to Area A and B in Judea and Samaria, and of course, reached its nadir in Gaza. Even in the case of Egypt, subject to a successful and (to date) enduring peace treaty with Israel, when Israel left the Sinai Peninsula, the vacuum created was filled by ISIS and other terror groups. Israel assisted Egypt in defending itself against ISIS.”
The issues with the two-state solution
Likewise, the commonly held belief that peace in Israel includes a two-state solution is also based on ignoring reality on the ground.
Friedman knows first hand the significant obstacles to a two-state solution as he was part of the U.S. team which proposed offering Palestinians a quasi-state as part of the “Vision for Peace” in 2020.
“The Vision for Peace was pilloried by [Palestinian Authority President] Mahmoud Abbas,” he writes. “Here was a detailed offer from the United States and Israel for specific territory with enormous financial backing. And yet Mahmoud Abbas, in the face of arguably the best deal the Palestinians have ever been offered in terms of the specifics and quality of life, went to the [United Nations] Security Council, ripped up the document, and shouted various and sundry curses in Arabic at the sponsors.”
Just as they did with all the opportunities for peace they had been offered before, the Palestinian leadership rejected it outright because they wanted a state instead of Israel, not alongside it.
3 reasons why Israel should declare sovereignty over Judea & Samaria
As we’ve seen, the two-state solution is no longer a realistic or viable option, which means that the only alternative for Israel is to take its destiny into its own hands and declare full sovereignty over Judea and Samaria.
Decades of failed negotiations, terrorism, and instability have shown that partitioning the land would not bring peace. Instead, Israel’s sovereignty over these areas is not just a legal or political necessity, but a strategic imperative for securing the country’s future.
There are many compelling arguments for why this move is in Israel’s and the Palestinians’ best interests. Here are three of the main ones:
1. The rich Jewish connection to Judea & Samaria
Israel’s claim to sovereignty over Judea and Samaria is rooted in the deep connection the Jewish people have to the land.
This connection is not just historical (as Jews have been living in this area for millenia) or biblical (as G-d promised this land to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob) but spiritual as well. As Psalm 137 says, "How can we sing God’s songs on foreign land?" The Jewish faith is innately tied to the Land of Israel, especially its heartland, including Judea and Samaria, which are home to many sacred sites.
Judaism is both a religion and a nation, with the Land of Israel at the center of both. The Torah teaches that the Jewish people only became a nation when they entered Israel. As Friedman points out in his book, Jewish settlement in Israel is a key part of Jewish faith, with many commandments, like agricultural laws, only possible to observe in the land. The return to Israel is also a key part of Jewish prophecy, with figures like Moses and Isaiah foretelling the Jewish people's eventual return.
Friedman concludes that "Zionism is central to Judaism," seeing the modern State of Israel as the fulfillment of these prophecies and a religious duty, not just a political goal.
2. The strategic benefits of Israeli sovereignty over Judea & Samaria
Israeli sovereignty over Judea and Samaria will allow it to have more control over the area and can help prevent the region from becoming even more of a hotbed of terrorism.
In One Jewish State, Friedman argues that without this control, the West Bank could become like Gaza, where terrorist groups like Hamas can operate freely and launch attacks on Israel. By asserting sovereignty, Israel could eliminate terrorist infrastructure and stop hostile groups from using the region as a base for attacks.
Likewise, taking control of these territories would strengthen Israel’s defense by expanding its borders and creating a more secure buffer zone. The highlands of Judea and Samaria provide a strategic advantage, helping Israel protect its most vulnerable areas. Sovereignty over the West Bank would not only reduce the risk of terrorism but also make Israel’s borders more defensible, ensuring a safer and more stable environment for all its people, Jew, Christian. Muslim and Druze.
3. There’s benefits for both Jewish and Arab citizens
Declaring sovereignty over Judea and Samaria would lead to greater peace and prosperity for all residents of Israel, both Jewish and Arab.
By formally integrating these areas, Israel would extend permanent residency to the Arab population, providing them with greater opportunities and access to the country’s thriving economy. As part of Israel, the Arab communities would benefit from the same infrastructure, healthcare, education, and economic growth that have contributed to Israel’s success. This inclusion would promote stability and foster a sense of belonging, reducing the divisions that fuel conflict.
Moreover, bringing Judea and Samaria under Israeli sovereignty would create more opportunities for economic cooperation between Jews and Arabs. With full access to the markets, industries, and innovations in Israel, Arabs living in these areas could benefit from increased employment opportunities and better living standards.
One Jewish State’s vision for Judea & Samaria
There are many details to be resolved, but here are the primary goals:
Greater economic opportunity for everyone
The goal of this plan is to create an environment where everybody living in the area comes out better because of it. That of course includes both Jews and Arabs who live in Judea and Samaria.
This means that nobody will be forced to leave the country and everyone in the region will be afforded greater living conditions, better economic opportunity, and more freedoms.
Zero tolerance for terror
That being said, we are not living in a fantasy land and understand that there are many people in the region that will not accept this plan peacefully. That’s why this plan sees these results happening gradually over time.
Likewise, Israel will need to make it clear from the outset that there will also be absolutely no tolerance for terrorism. If anyone picks up their weapons to kill, they will be killed.
For the rest of the population who are willing to live in peace, there will be great benefits.
Watch Ambassador David Friedman explain his plan here:
How to do this?
Step 1: Three-party agreement between Israel, US, and Muslim nations
The first step is to establish an agreement between Israel, the U.S., and a broader group of Muslim nations involved in the Abraham Accords.
This agreement would demonstrate a united front, with all parties working together to address the conflict and find a practical solution. By aligning their interests, these countries can begin building trust and take meaningful steps toward lasting peace.
Step 2: Israel declares full sovereignty over Judea & Samaria
After the agreement is established, Israel would declare full sovereignty over Judea and Samaria.
This move recognizes the historical and religious significance of the land to the Jewish people. Once again, the region with the deepest Jewish roots in the world would come under Jewish sovereignty, reinforcing Israel’s connection to its ancestral homeland.
This step would be a powerful symbol of reconciliation and a foundation for future stability, signaling that both sides are committed to securing a lasting peace in the region.
Step 3: Launch a Marshall Plan for Palestinians, funded by Gulf states
Taking responsibility for up to 2.5 million Palestinians will come with a massive financial burden, one that Israel cannot bear alone.
To build the necessary infrastructure — roads, hospitals, schools, and a new educational system that fosters peace rather than hatred — significant investment is required.
This is where the wealthy Gulf states can play a crucial role. Instead of continuing to push for the unrealistic goal of a two-state solution, these nations must shift their focus toward a more pragmatic approach: investing heavily in improving the lives of Palestinians.
By funding a comprehensive Marshall Plan, the Gulf states can help provide the resources needed for long-term stability, economic development, and a future of coexistence, ultimately lifting the region as a whole.
Step 4: Grant Palestinian enclaves self-rule under Israeli security oversight
Under the current structure of the Oslo Accords, Judea and Samaria are divided into Areas A, B, and C, with Area A being fully controlled by the Palestinian Authority.
In this new vision, the Oslo divisions would disappear and Palestinian enclaves would be governed by their own local leaders or clans, with the power to make decisions on daily life, local governance, and community affairs. However, Israel would maintain overriding security control to ensure stability and prevent any escalation of violence.
This arrangement would give Palestinians a greater degree of autonomy while ensuring that security concerns are addressed. By allowing these communities to govern themselves, the path to peaceful coexistence is further solidified, as both sides can focus on addressing internal issues while remaining committed to broader regional peace.
Step 5: Grant Palestinians permanent residency and Israeli travel documents
As part of this plan, Palestinians in the region would be granted permanent residency status in the State of Israel, along with Israeli travel documents, enabling them to live and move freely within Israel and abroad.
However, they would not have the right to vote in Israeli national elections, similar to the status of Puerto Rico's residents in the United States.
This arrangement provides a path to stability and greater opportunity for Palestinians, while respecting Israel's unique identity as the Jewish state. There are nearly 50 Muslim-majority countries and 13 official Christian countries in the world, but Israel is the only Jewish state.
Those who are not comfortable with this arrangement have the option to live in one of these many other countries. This solution seeks to balance the rights of Palestinians with Israel’s national character, ensuring peace and security for all.
Follow along One Jewish State’s journey
As we mentioned, Israel's decision to declare sovereignty over Judea and Samaria is not just a political move — it’s a necessary step for securing peace, prosperity, and stability for all its citizens. By integrating these areas, Israel can strengthen its security, create more defensible borders, and ensure that both Jewish and Arab communities have access to economic opportunities and better living standards.
This approach offers a pragmatic solution to the region's challenges, ensuring a brighter future for everyone.
To dive deeper into the arguments for Israeli sovereignty and to learn more about the vision for Judea and Samaria, we highly recommend reading One Jewish State by David Friedman. His insights provide a compelling case for why this path is not only in Israel’s best interest but also in the interest of peace and prosperity for all people living in the region.