The struggle over the West Bank and Jerusalem is not a land struggle but a struggle of history, religion, and identity. For decades, this region has been the focal point of deep-rooted conflicts, not only because of the land itself but because of the powerful narratives attached to it by both Palestinians and Israelis. What transpires today in the West Bank – re-sieges upon cities, the displacement of its residents – isn’t something that appeared out of nowhere. All is interlinked to a long history that inextricably connects deep roots to Israeli plans and ancient claims reaching back thousands of years.
For Israel, the West Bank is more than just that a piece of land across the Jordan River. They refer to the region as Judea and Samaria – names taken from biblical texts, in an attempt to help mold the idea that this is a ‘land of Jews’. This has been the ‘motivating’ factor behind the Israeli actions since the ‘state’ was formed: the removal of Palestinians, and reshaping of the land into a historical and religious vision. Fatima Triki, a journalist, stated that the claims are nothing new. They have been central to Israel’s ‘justification’ for expanding settlements and asserting control over the region, often at the expense of the Palestinian people who have lived there for generations.
The war is very much about maintaining what Israel views as its ‘historical’ and ‘religious’ birthright
The Israeli narrative goes back to biblical times, to a period when the northern kingdom of Israel existed, with Samaria as its capital. That was around 930 BC, if one were to follow the Bible; however, that region then fell into the hands of the Assyrians within a short period. Israel claims this historic land lies in what today is referred to as northern West Bank cities such as Nablus, Jenin, and Tulkarm. There is a deep division over this narrative. Palestinian historians, alongside many other scholars, contest these claims for a serious lack of archaeological evidence.
To them, ancient Palestine was the land of the Canaanites, rich in history dating back thousands of years before the people of Israel arrived. Much of it remains visible today, from Jericho to Jerusalem. Farther south into the West Bank, the Israeli narrative has focused on the Kingdom of Judah at its center. It is said to have stood until 586 BC, destroyed by the Babylonians. Israel searches even now for remnants of the ancient temple they believe lies beneath Al-Aqsa Mosque, though these claims are disputed, with little archaeological proof to back them.
Jerusalem has never been just a piece of land to Palestinians and Muslims worldwide; it is home to Al-Aqsa Mosque, one of Islam’s holiest sites, and its significance stretches back many centuries. In Islam, many of the biblical kings claimed by Israel as historical forebears are remembered as prophets in their own right, adherents to the one faith with Abraham, and thereby compromising the exclusivity of any Jewish historical right of possession to the land. The argument rages on, but Israel’s desire to hold on to the West Bank is unabated.
Jerusalem has never been just a piece of land to Palestinians and Muslims worldwide; it is home to Al-Aqsa Mosque
This it made clear in 2020, when Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared, “We believe that the opportunity is available to restore our sovereignty over the Jordan Valley, and over the strategic areas in Judea and Samaria.” In this way, Israel’s statement reflects a continued desire to keep tight control over the land-roots of modern politics, but also in a vision shaped by both ‘religious and historical’ claims. This is where the catch comes in when we say ‘peace’. The two-state solution does sound sweet on paper: Palestine and Israel living adjacent to one another. That is, at least in theory, a nice-sounding concept. But, well, it just isn’t.
For one, where exactly would this Palestinian state be if Israel thinks of the West Bank as part of its biblical patrimony? The region is teeming with Israeli settlements already, and one cannot imagine the Israelis yielding to pressures without resistance. To observers, such as writers at Middle East Eye, these latest assaults Israel has conducted on the West Bank were no less than discrete military actions. It is part of a larger, far-reaching plan at solidifying Israel’s grip on lands. The war is not against resisting Palestinian fighters; assuredly, it is to a large degree, but it is very much about maintaining what Israel views as its ‘historical’ and ‘religious’ birthright.
The Israeli Army has carried out major incursions over the past several months against Palestinians, including in the cities of Jenin, Tulkarm, and Tubas. In turn, the Palestinian groups vowed to retaliate and plunged another round into escalations, making an already volatile region even more explosive. This clash is much more than a conflict between two peoples over anything as simple as security. It’s about two peoples with deeply intertwined but vastly different histories, struggling for control over the same land. And it is in that struggle that the stories we tell ourselves of who we are — and where we come from — become just as important as the land itself.