They Say, We Say: "The West Bank, Gaza, and the Golan Heights are 'disputed', not 'occupied.'"

They Say We Say We know that pro-Israel does not mean blindly supporting policies that are irrational, reckless, and counter-productive. Pro-Israel means supporting policies that are consistent with Israel's interests and promote its survival as a Jewish, democratic state.

You've heard the arguments of the religious and political right-wing, and so have we. They've had their say. Now, we'll have ours.

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Why Should Israel have to give up land?

They Say:

Israel gained control of the West Bank, Gaza, and the Golan Heights as an outcome of a war that was forced on it by the Arabs. Yes, the Palestinians claim it, but that makes the land "disputed," not "occupied"

We Say:

The debate over whether the West Bank and Gaza are "occupied" or "disputed" is not really about legalisms or semantics, but about ideology. The argument that the land is not "occupied" is most frequently articulated by people who support Israel holding on, permanently, to the West Bank and Gaza, and who support Israeli settlement in these areas. They support this, despite the fact that holding on to these areas undermines Israel's existence as a Jewish state and a democracy.

Whether you call the territories "occupied," "disputed" or even "liberated," one thing is true: Israel's long-term security and viability as a Jewish state and a democracy hinges on its ability to end the occupation and achieve a two-state solution.