Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, a Republican presidential candidate, has sparked controversy by reiterating his claim that the West Bank is not occupied territory.

In a speech to Christians United for Israel (CUFI), DeSantis expressed his support for Israel's right to continue building settlements in the disputed region without interference from the United States.

This stance aligns with his previous remarks on the issue and highlights his commitment to a staunchly pro-Israel agenda. DeSantis, who has actively cracked down on companies boycotting Israel, emphasized that Judea and Samaria, the biblical names for the West Bank, are not occupied territory.

He argued that while the land is disputed, Israelis have the strongest claim to the region and should be allowed to establish strong communities there. These remarks signal that DeSantis and other Republican presidential candidates will prioritize their right-wing base by maintaining unwavering support for Israel.

However, DeSantis's assertions contradict international law, which views the West Bank as Palestinian territory. Israel captured the land in 1967 and has since been constructing settlements in violation of international law.

This expansion has garnered criticism from various human rights groups, including Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International, who accuse Israel of imposing apartheid on Palestinians. United Nations experts have even classified the settlements as war crimes.

DeSantis's speech took place at CUFI, one of the largest Christian Zionist organizations in the United States. The group represents a significant conservative constituency of US evangelicals who support Israel for religious reasons.

Other Republican presidential hopefuls, including Nikki Haley and Mike Pence, are also scheduled to address the conference, indicating that pro-Israel stances will feature prominently in the upcoming election. While President Joe Biden has expressed unconditional support for Israel, DeSantis criticized his policies during his speech.

DeSantis rejected Biden's push for a two-state solution based on pre-1967 borders, citing their indefensibility. He also condemned Biden's failure to invite Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to the White House and his criticism of proposed judicial reforms in Israel.

DeSantis pledged to welcome Netanyahu as president and allow Israel to govern itself without foreign intervention. These remarks coincided with Israeli President Isaac Herzog's visit to Washington, raising questions as to why Netanyahu was not invited.

However, Netanyahu's office later confirmed that he had been invited for talks with Biden, although no specific details were provided. DeSantis's comments reflect his determination to win over Republican primary voters and chip away at former President Donald Trump's significant lead in the polls.

With the primaries scheduled to begin next year, Republican candidates are likely to further emphasize their unwavering support for Israel to appease their right-wing base.