Montgomery, Alabama — An Alabama Republican lawmaker has proposed legislation that would prohibit the use of the term “West Bank” in all state government documents, instead requiring the Palestinian territory to be referred to as “Judea” and “Samaria.” The bill, pre-filed ahead of the 2026 legislative session, reflects a growing effort among conservative lawmakers to symbolically align state policy language with Israel.
House Bill 81 was introduced by Rep. Mark Gidley of Hokes Bluff, who said the terminology change is necessary to reflect what he described as the area’s “historically, biblically, and legally accurate” names. Gidley argued that the phrase “West Bank” originates from Jordan’s prior control of the territory and no longer reflects current realities following Israel’s occupation after the 1967 Six-Day War.
The measure would apply broadly to official state materials, including guidance, press releases, internal communications, and other government documents. Gidley acknowledged he is unaware of any existing Alabama documents that currently reference the West Bank but said the proposal demonstrates Alabama’s long-standing support for Israel.
Democratic Rep. Phillip Ensler of Montgomery, the only Jewish member of the Alabama Legislature, said the bill is unnecessary and distracts from issues more relevant to residents. While expressing appreciation for support of Israel, Ensler questioned why a state legislature should weigh into an international conflict through symbolic language changes.
Similar legislation has been introduced in several other Republican-led states. Alabama’s 2026 legislative session begins January 13.
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