Judea and Samaria Area

Judea and Samaria Area (Hebrew: אֵזוֹר יְהוּדָה וְשׁוֹמְרוֹן‎, Ezor Yehuda VeShomron, also an acronym יו"ש Yosh or ש"י Shai; Arabic: يهودا والسامرة‎, Yahuda was-Sāmerah) is the official Israeli term corresponding to the territory usually referred to as the West Bank including its Israeli settlements but without the East Jerusalem area. As East Jerusalem and other annexed areas are considered part of the West Bank by the international community, the Judea and Samaria Area is smaller. Hence, the terms are not synonymous.

Judea, the American English spelling, is more commonly used, but the British English spelling Judaea is also used. It is currently one of the fastest growing regions across Israel and Palestinian Territories in terms of population, growing at an annual 5%.