Senate passes bill banning the term “West Bank” in state documents

(The Center Square) – The Middle Eastern region known as the West Bank could soon be referred to as Judea and Samaria in official Tennessee documents if Gov. Bill Lee signs a bill passed by the Senate on Thursday.

Covington Republican Paul Rose told Nashville Democrat Charlane Oliver during the floor debate that he wouldn’t say “we need this” when referring to House Bill 1446.

“I don’t think it moves the needle for the state of Tennessee, but I think it’s a philosophical statement that if you choose to vote for it, that you will make,” Rose said.

Oliver said Tennessee has real problems that the General Assembly is not addressing.

“And bills like this, as the sponsor said, is not needed,” Oliver said. “And so I just want to challenge us to get to the real business. The people who elected me feel like legislation like this erases their heritage.”

The bill says the term “West Bank” is a “deliberate attempt to erase the Jewish identity of Judea and Samaria, and to obscu...