# Arkansas passes bill to call West Bank “Judea and Samaria” **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [May 1, 2025, 9:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/arkansas-passes-bill-to-call-west-bank-judea-and-samaria/1017743 "2025-05-01T09:16:04Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2025, 5:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/arkansas-passes-bill-to-call-west-bank-judea-and-samaria/1017743/21 "2025-05-02T05:53:53Z")
You know, just because some wing nuts in the Arkansas house name a whole other country a new name. Does not make it so. Officially. Not many people listen to Arkansas, outside of our near neighbors. I don’t see maps changing or Arkansas to be asked for other ideas on names. Such a waste of time, resources. The waste of paper its printed on. And especially those 3 brain cells in my head that died when I read it this morning. Utterly ridiculous. ---
**Author:** ![crowmanyclouds](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crowmanyclouds/32/19884_2.png) [@crowmanyclouds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/crowmanyclouds)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2025, 12:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/arkansas-passes-bill-to-call-west-bank-judea-and-samaria/1017743/22 "2025-05-02T12:09:22Z")
> [@Beckdawrek](#): > > You know, just because some wing nuts in the Arkansas house name a whole other country a new name. Does not make it so. > Officially. > Not many people listen to Arkansas, outside of our near neighbors. > > I don’t see maps changing or Arkansas to be asked for other ideas on names. This is not about naming things. It’s about Arkansas picking the ethnic cleansing side of the Israel/Palestine conflict. This is Arkansas in 1939 calling Poland _Outer Germany_. ---
**Author:** ![Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/son_of_a_rich/32/5439_2.png) [@Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Son_of_a_Rich)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2025, 12:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/arkansas-passes-bill-to-call-west-bank-judea-and-samaria/1017743/23 "2025-05-02T12:12:46Z")
I’d like to see a bit wherein President Sheinbaum presents an easel with a big map renaming our big, beautiful continents as North Mexico, and South Mexico. ---
**Author:** ![Railer13](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/railer13/32/9742_2.png) [@Railer13](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Railer13)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2025, 7:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/arkansas-passes-bill-to-call-west-bank-judea-and-samaria/1017743/24 "2025-05-02T19:19:46Z")
> [@Q.Q.Switcheroo](#): > > the Palestinian Authority passes a bill to pronounce Arkansas “ar-KAN-ziss.” We Kansans have been calling the Arkansas River by that pronunciation forever. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2025, 8:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/arkansas-passes-bill-to-call-west-bank-judea-and-samaria/1017743/25 "2025-05-02T20:18:49Z")
> [@Q.Q.Switcheroo](#): > > Next step: the Palestinian Authority passes a bill to pronounce Arkansas “ar-KAN-ziss.” With a threat to escalate by renaming the state “South Missouri”. ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2025, 8:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/arkansas-passes-bill-to-call-west-bank-judea-and-samaria/1017743/26 "2025-05-02T20:32:44Z")
This is clearly their point. Sticking a poker at whatever makes the loudest noise. So maybe dear Leader will notice and forgive Lying Sarah and invite her to be in a cabinet postion, she will not be qualified for. I know this was her idea. I expect the “heil,Hitler” arm to go up anyday now. God I hope she wears sleeves. Her flabby upper arms are not a good look for saluting. ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2025, 9:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/arkansas-passes-bill-to-call-west-bank-judea-and-samaria/1017743/27 "2025-05-02T21:09:07Z")
Jeez, dude. They’re just the geographic names of the regions. Samaria - _Shomron_ in Hebrew, _Samira_ in Arabic - in the north, and Judea in the south. They’ve been called by those names for almost 3,000 years. As far as I know, other than “the West Bank”, there aren’t any other names for the area in English. Look: it’s not like Arkansas is going to call the region “Palestine” - a country that the United States does not recognize. The choice is between “the West Bank” or “Judea and Samaria.” There is no option three. Are you seriously complaining that _Arkansas_, of all places, doesn’t recognize Palestine? Because honestly, that’s not where I’d start. ---
**Author:** ![crowmanyclouds](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crowmanyclouds/32/19884_2.png) [@crowmanyclouds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/crowmanyclouds)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2025, 9:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/arkansas-passes-bill-to-call-west-bank-judea-and-samaria/1017743/28 "2025-05-02T21:15:51Z")
> [@Alessan](#): > > Are you seriously complaining that _Arkansas_, of all places, doesn’t recognize Palestine? What would the reaction be if Arkansas did recognize Palestine? ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2025, 9:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/arkansas-passes-bill-to-call-west-bank-judea-and-samaria/1017743/29 "2025-05-02T21:17:35Z")
> [@crowmanyclouds](#): > > What would the reaction be if Arkansas did recognize Palestine? Stupefied laughter? “I’ll have what they’re having!” ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2025, 9:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/arkansas-passes-bill-to-call-west-bank-judea-and-samaria/1017743/30 "2025-05-02T21:20:28Z")
Honestly, I don’t think individual U.S. states should have _any_ foreign policy, of any form. That way lies madness. The Huckabees are idiots. ---
**Author:** ![wguy123](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wguy123/32/3161_2.png) [@wguy123](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wguy123)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2025, 9:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/arkansas-passes-bill-to-call-west-bank-judea-and-samaria/1017743/31 "2025-05-02T21:21:42Z")
> [@Alessan](#): > > They’re just the geographic names of the regions. And why is this state weighing in on how they will call those regions? “Just the geographic names” is downplaying WHY they are doing this. ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2025, 9:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/arkansas-passes-bill-to-call-west-bank-judea-and-samaria/1017743/32 "2025-05-02T21:23:38Z")
> [@wguy123](#): > > “Just the geographic names” is downplaying WHY they are doing this. Well, duh. They’re “triggering the libs”. This is nothing to do with Israel/Palestine and everything to do with _YOU_. And you’re walking right into their trap. ---
**Author:** ![wguy123](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wguy123/32/3161_2.png) [@wguy123](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wguy123)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2025, 9:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/arkansas-passes-bill-to-call-west-bank-judea-and-samaria/1017743/33 "2025-05-02T21:29:30Z")
I’m sure that is a side benefit, but we’ll have to agree to disagree why they are really doing it. ---
**Author:** ![Banksiaman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/banksiaman/32/3334_2.png) [@Banksiaman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Banksiaman)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2025, 9:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/arkansas-passes-bill-to-call-west-bank-judea-and-samaria/1017743/34 "2025-05-02T21:41:31Z")
Maybe just putting on a Popular Front? ---
**Author:** ![gnoitall](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/bb73d2/32.png) [@gnoitall](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gnoitall)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2025, 10:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/arkansas-passes-bill-to-call-west-bank-judea-and-samaria/1017743/35 "2025-05-02T22:00:11Z")
> [@Banksiaman](#): > > putting on a Popular Front? SPLITTER! ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2025, 10:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/arkansas-passes-bill-to-call-west-bank-judea-and-samaria/1017743/36 "2025-05-02T22:08:10Z")
> [@Alessan](#): > > > [@wguy123](#): > > > > “Just the geographic names” is downplaying WHY they are doing this. ⁢ > > Well, duh. They’re “triggering the libs”. This is nothing to do with Israel/Palestine and everything to do with _YOU_. And you’re walking right into their trap. ⁢ Yeah, no. Arkansas is red. They aren’t doing it to trigger the libs. It’s 100% playing to the base. It’s about seeming like they’re playing to the Bible and are on the right side of certain prophesies. They have no reason to be saying anything at all here. Also, I just very strongly object to this line of reasoning. For one, someone just posted a mild bit of anger to express their disapproval of symbolically siding with an oppressive regime. On a message board with fellow “libs”. That does nothing to help any cause. But, even conceptually, the idea that we should avoid saying something because the right would call it being triggered is silly. That is effectively ceding things to them, allowing them to control the narrative. They aren’t even here, yet you are using their tone policing tactic for them. ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2025, 10:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/arkansas-passes-bill-to-call-west-bank-judea-and-samaria/1017743/37 "2025-05-02T22:45:12Z")
Well, there is the Rice crop. Arkansas recently(2020, I think) began exporting it to China. I doubt Huckleberry-Sanders cares, too much. I swear she just wants back in the inner circle. She’s not carrying off the Republican woman _Look_ very well. She has no chance, even if she was brilliant. Which she’s not. ---
**Author:** ![Odesio](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/odesio/32/20003_2.png) [@Odesio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Odesio)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2025, 10:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/arkansas-passes-bill-to-call-west-bank-judea-and-samaria/1017743/38 "2025-05-02T22:54:41Z")
> [@Beckdawrek](#): > > I doubt Huckleberry-Sanders cares, too much. > I swear she just wants back in the inner circle. My wife thinks Huckabee-Sanders just wants the Franklin county detention center so Trump can dump undocumented workers there. ---
**Author:** ![Q.Q.Switcheroo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/q.q.switcheroo/32/5713_2.png) [@Q.Q.Switcheroo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.Q.Switcheroo)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2025, 2:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/arkansas-passes-bill-to-call-west-bank-judea-and-samaria/1017743/39 "2025-05-03T02:30:09Z")
> [@BigT](#): > > It’s 100% playing to the base. It’s about seeming like they’re playing to the Bible and are on the right side of certain prophesies. Yes - a bit like insisting on calling the Western Wall the “Wailing Wall.” ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2025, 6:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/arkansas-passes-bill-to-call-west-bank-judea-and-samaria/1017743/40 "2025-05-03T06:32:54Z")
Sounds true to me too. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/arkansas-passes-bill-to-call-west-bank-judea-and-samaria/1017743.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/arkansas-passes-bill-to-call-west-bank-judea-and-samaria/1017743.md?page=3)