On Thursday, an inspiring offer was made at the Jerusalem Breakfast by the head of the Shomron (Samaria) Regional Council, Governor Yossi Dagan. Dagan bestowed honorary citizenship in Judea and Samaria on the Christian Zionists.

In his address, Yossi Dagan referred to a recent announcement by Paris Mayor Emmanuel Grégoire, in which he stated his intention to propose at the next Paris City Council meeting in June that honorary citizenship be granted to Palestinian civilians and journalists from Judea and Samaria and Gaza in what he described as an “act of peace.” In his announcement, he equated the October 7th massacre of Israelis and the IDF war against Hamas, calling them “two tragedies” and urging adherence to “law, peace, and humanity.” 

“He is offering citizenship to the Palestinian Authority, also to Fatah (PLO), also to Hamas, and he will bring them all honorary citizenship of Paris,” Dagan said. “And I must tell you, sisters and brothers, as governor of Samaria, I invite you to be honorary citizens of Samaria and Judea.”

In practical terms, the proposal by Paris Mayor Emmanuel Grégoire to grant honorary citizenship to Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank appears to be almost entirely symbolic rather than legally substantive. The mayor already spoke about “strengthening cooperation between Paris and the Palestinian territories.” 

Ironically, Paris has granted honorary citizenship to many symbolic figures and causes, including Israeli hostage victims after October 7. 

Rabbi Tuly Weis, the head of Israel365, was enthusiastic about Dagan’s offer.

“It is unclear what honorary citizenship means, but at this point, the growth of Judea and Samaria over the last three years, and all of the new communities that have been built, are perceived by the political leadership of Judea and Samaria as being tied to the strength of Christian support for Israel in general and Judea and Samaria, in particular.”

Mike Evans, the founder of Friends of Zion, responded. 

“About 80 percent of the Bible stories came out of Judea and Samaria. The evangelicals are 750 million worldwide. The vast majority of evangelical Zionists believe that Judea and Samaria are holy ground. If you take it or touch it, God will curse you. What was just said was very important to the greatest supporters of the State of Israel.”

Michelle Bachmann, the Dean of Regent University’s Robertson School of Government, announced that they would be taking signatures of attendees who wanted to accept Dagan’s offer.