International critics claim that Israel is occupying this region. Some Israeli citizens have never been here. Bus companies and taxi drivers refuse to do business on the roads in these areas. And even though two and a half million tourists visited Israel in 2022, a very small number of those tourists entered this region.
I’m speaking of course, of Judea and Samaria, a region that the world vilifies, and yet, it is one of Israel’s best-kept secrets – from some of their own citizens and the millions of tourists that come to the Holy Land every year.
Regardless of whether you’re for or against the right of the Jewish people to live here, one thing is clear. Judea and Samaria is Israel’s Biblical Heartland, and it is here to stay.
Population of Israel’s Heartland Passes Half a Million Residents
The West Bank Population Stats recently released their annual report, finding the Jewish population of Judea and Samaria has now crossed half a million. In East Jerusalem, which is nearly always lumped in with the West Bank in political discussions, there are another 340,000 Jews, which, when combined makes 840,000 Jewish residents of the so-called “West Bank.”
No one seems to know for sure how many Palestinian Arabs reside in Judea and Samaria. Independent researchers have found that the statistics of the Palestinian Authority are extremely faulty, and estimates on the actual Arab population of these areas remain somewhere between one and two million.
Jewish Judea and Samaria has grown by 2.55% in the last twelve months and more than fifteen percent in the past five years.
Contrary to the mainstream media’s belief, the half a million residents of Israel’s Heartland do not only reside in rogue outposts and illegal settlements. What some would term “settlements” are actually thriving Jewish communities, several of which today are large cities.
For example, Ariel has more than 30,000 residents, sprawling shopping malls, and a university with more than 12,000 students, both Jew and Arab. The university also has a medical school, and will graduate their first doctors in the coming year. Strangely enough, most of the world would still consider Ariel to be a settlement since it is located in the heart of Samaria.
Member of Knesset Promotes Bill to Annex the Jordan Valley
While many pro-Israel conservatives hoped that Donald Trump would approve of at least partial annexation in Israel’s Heartland, those ambitions were cut short by the results of the 2020 US presidential election results. Combined with the last few years of Israel’s struggle to elect a strong government, hopes of applying sovereignty in Judea and Samaria have grown dim.
After finally electing a strong, right-wing government following a political gridlock over the last three years, the idea of annexation appears to finally be back on the table.
Member of Knesset Danny Danon of the Likud is pushing a bill that would allow Israel to annex the Jordan Valley, which makes up about 30% of Judea and Samaria, and is largely considered to be of vital strategic importance to Israel in any negotiation discussions.
Although a hot button topic, and considering that Israel’s current conservative government faces a hostile American Administration, conservatives can be hopeful that the issue of sovereignty in Israel’s Heartland will make strides towards fruition in the coming months and years.
Independent Poll Shows Support for Two-State Solution At All Time Low
According to a recent article published in Haaretz, support for the two-state solution is at an all time low. The survey, called the Palestinian-Israeli Pulse, was conducted by the Palestinian Center for Policy and Survey Research in Ramallah and the International Program in Conflict Resolution and Mediation at Tel Aviv University.
The survey found that support for the two-state solution has vastly decreased even in the last two years, and while left-wingers are certain any hope for peace has disappeared, the reality may be far different.
Those who have been to Israel’s Heartland are quick to realize the truth that the mainstream media chooses to ignore. Peace will never be obtained between Israel and the Palestinians by turning over Jewish land to their Arab neighbors.
Instead, peace will only come when the Arab people recognize Israel as a legitimate, sovereign entity, and choose to stop teaching their children to commit acts of violence against them.
Besides this, Judea and Samaria is a hidden, beautiful gem that the entire world should benefit from – both Jew, Arab, and tourist.
Israel’s Heartland: the Best-Kept Secret Gem of the Holy Land
Jerusalem, Judea and Samaria is not only home to nearly a million Jewish Israelis. It is also known as the Biblical Heartland. More than 80% of the Bible was written or occurred here. Archeologists have uncovered more than 300 wine and olive oil presses in this region. Incredible, award-winning wineries are located throughout the region, with many of their grapes grown in the Judea and Samaria hills, perfect for the industry because of the elevation and proximity to the Mediterranean Sea.
Israel’s central mountain range runs directly through Judea and Samaria, and is home to beautiful agriculture, stunning views, historical and biblical sites, restaurants, local hideaways for the adventurous travelers, rivers, hiking trails, national parks, and so much more.
To the lovers and the haters of Israel, there is something you should realize. The Jews of the Heartland are here to stay. The two-state solution is not a viable option for peace in this region, and would be the worst possible outcome for the Jews and Arabs that call this place home.
Contrary to the claims of the media, this place lays claim to some of the most incredible people and places in Israel. Tour agencies are beginning to find out that Israel’s best-kept secret should no longer be excluded from their itineraries, and Israelis themselves are discovering this beautiful place.
Judea and Samaria, rightfully known as Israel’s Biblical Heartland, is an integral part of the nation of Israel, and should be on the list of every Israeli Jew and every tourist to visit in this coming year.
Israel’s Heartland is here to stay.
Sounds like an incredible area to tour. Is safety still a concern when traveling into Judea & Samaria?
Your posts are always excellent, but this one is particularly spot on:
” Peace will never be obtained between Israel and the Palestinians by turning over Jewish land to their Arab neighbors.
Instead, peace will only come when the Arab people recognize Israel as a legitimate, sovereign entity, and choose to stop teaching their children to commit acts of violence against them.”
Hoping I can come to Israel soon. To see the “before” Yeshua Messiah returns or to be there when He returns. Be strong, be strong, and let us be strengthened!
Hear hear!!!
Great article, thank you Luke!!! I wanted to ‘like’ and comment on it on Twitter but you haven’t linked it there, as yet.
One of my favourite statements… “Peace will never be obtained between Israel and the Palestinians by turning over Jewish land to their Arab neighbors. Instead, peace will only come when the Arab people recognize Israel as a legitimate, sovereign entity, and choose to stop teaching their children to commit acts of violence against them.”
Articles like this are key to changing public perception of the realities on the ground. I would love to see more constructive talk about what can be done now that the two-state solution is pretty much out of the picture, and dismantling UNRWA is part of the solution, surely?
Keep up the great work, Israel Guys!!!
Hi Sandy! Sorry, we were a little bit delayed getting this article posted to Twitter. You can find it on our profile now, or here at this link: https://twitter.com/theisraelguys/status/1625022420917657602
Safety is a concern, but not near as much as the media would have you believe. Ironically, many big cities in the US are statistically more dangerous than coming to Judea and Samaria. If you’re interested in coming on a trip, check out all of our programs at http://www.serveisrael.com!
As always, great analysis, thanks Luke !
I visited Ariel in 2000 and 2001, what a beautiful Jewish City !
Stayed in a hotel room out of which, through its window I saw a place, from which few days before shots were fired….I kept my window and curtains open, I figured if I get shot and die it’s a local trip out to Heaven…Yes !
At that particular time—we the small 12 people group— were the only group that didn’t canceled our trip to Israel. Ben Yehuda was ghostly empty, we walked in the middle of it rejecting in the God of Abraham….having the whole ISRAEL to ourselves….yep !
I went to Psagot, with tears watching Jewish kindergarten children, in the Jewish Land staying inside behind bulletproof barricade so they wouldn’t get shot.
One of the man invited me to his home there, took me to his little son’s bedroom and showed me a hole in the window and wall of the 50 cal bullet that was shot by the sniper from the city below and missed the head of his son just couple of inches ! ! !
My point is that the two states solution is as possible as all the Muslims recognizing the sovereignty of Israel at the same moment…lol
The Scriptures say, The LORD is The God of Israel and that is just IT ! His Promises are irrevocable….! ! ! ! !