Israel threatens to seize ancient water reservoirs near Bethlehem
Solomon’s Pools date back to the second century BCE, and have become a source of recreation for nearby BethlehemIsrael is threatening to seize ancient water reservoirs near Bethlehem, in what would be a significant escalation in an intensifying campaign for control of West Bank land and the Middle East’s historical narrative.Since Israel’s extremist finance minister, Bezalel Smotrich, made an explicit threat in May to “erase” the agreements that confirmed Palestinian ownership of Solomon’s Pools more than 30 years ago, Israeli…
Israel is threatening to seize Solomon’s Pools, ancient water reservoirs near Bethlehem, escalating a campaign for control of West Bank land and historical narratives. These pools, dating back to the second century BCE with major Roman and Ottoman additions, are currently a significant recreational site for Bethlehem residents and are classified as Area A under Palestinian control by the 1995 Oslo Accord.
“This is our land,”
declared Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich in May, advocating for Israeli takeover. This move is seen as a direct challenge to the Palestinian Authority and the Oslo agreements. Palestinian officials and archaeologists, like Eman al-Titi, head of Bethlehem’s tourism and antiquities department, argue that such actions attempt to "reshape history and promote a single historical narrative that does not reflect the archaeological evidence."
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