Alabama lawmaker proposes banning use of West Bank in government documents

An Alabama lawmaker has pre-filed a bill that would prohibit the use of the term West Bank in all government documents when referring to the Palestinian territory on the Jordan River.

HB 81, sponsored by Rep. Mark Gidley, R-Hokes Bluff, would require the area to be referenced by its “historically, biblically, and legally accurate” names of “Judea” and “Samaria.” Gidley said in an interview that the change is necessary because the West Bank is left over from the time that Jordan controlled the territory, which is now controlled by Israel.