Tennessee committee advances bill to use 'Judea and Samaria' instead of 'West Bank' after heated testimony

The Tennessee House State and Local Government Committee on Wednesday voted to advance House Bill 1446, a measure that would direct state agencies to use the historical terms "Judea and Samaria" in official communications rather than the political term "West Bank." The measure moved to Calendar & Rules 14-6 with one present not voting.

Sponsor Representative Todd explained the bill as an attempt to standardize terminology across state materials. "Anytime we use state funds to produce items, they would be covered by this," the sponsor said, adding that the bill would apply to state agencies' guidance, briefs and official communications.

The bill drew sharply divergent testimony. Bruce Pearl, introduced to the committee as a former University of Tennessee coach, urged members to adopt the historical terms citing religious and historical ties. "What I'm asking you to consider today is a choice between historical frameworks and two worldviews," Pearl said, arguing the terms shaped how future students would learn about the region.

Opponents included Anwar Arafat, an imam from Memphis who identified himself as Palestinian American, and Daniel Joseph Goldberg, a Nashville resident whose family includes relatives living in the occupied territories. Arafat said the bill’s 19 findings "do not once acknowledge that Palestinians live on that land" and warned the measure erases Palestinian presence. "This bill tells me and my family that we do not exist," he told the committee. Goldberg said the bill contains "deliberate misrepresentations of history and scripture" and questioned who drafted and funded the model legislation.

Committee members pressed both sides on factual and practical questions, including whether the bill would affect references to Gaza (sponsors said it would not) and whether Israel itself uses the historical terms (witnesses said usage varies). Some members described the debate as a distraction from state priorities; Representative Miller apologized to a witness, calling the legislation "unnecessary" in the current international context.

After extended discussion and public testimony, the committee voted to move the bill to Calendar & Rules. The clerk reported 14 ayes, 6 nos, and 1 present not voting. The committee did not adopt any amendments that materially changed the bill’s language during the hearing.

HB 1446 will next be scheduled for consideration on the House floor or further committee action on the Calendar & Rules calendar.