West Bank Water Seized: Palestinian Farms Dry Up Amid Growing Tensions
Palestinian farmers in the West Bank are facing a severe water crisis. Israeli settlers have taken control of crucial water sources. These actions threaten the lives and work of many Palestinian families.
In Fasayil village, located in the Jordan Valley, farmer Saad Nemer has lost his irrigation water. Israeli settlers seized his pipeline in June. They diverted the water to an ancient pool nearby.
Mr. Nemer relies on this water for his crops. Without it, his fields usually full of eggplant and watermelon remain empty. He said his farm has suffered great losses. Many families will lose their jobs because of this.
Settlers are now turning the pool into a tourist attraction. Israel’s finance minister, Bezalel Smotrich, has promised money for its development. Mr. Nemer presented documents showing the spring and pool are on his land.
United Nations data shows a pattern of such actions. Israeli settlers have attacked at least 160 water sites in Palestinian areas this year. This makes life harder for Palestinians in the West Bank.
An Israeli settler, Yishai Shreiber, visited the pool in August. He said Palestinians are now afraid to come near the water. Mr. Shreiber believes the West Bank belongs to Jewish people.
Adel Yassin, a Palestinian water official, calls this a “water war.” He said settlers target water to force Palestinians from their land. He believes it is a silent way to harm them.
Archaeologists have questioned claims that the pool belonged to ancient Jewish kings. Filling the pool with water can also damage the historical site. A billboard advertises a $1 million investment from Mr. Smotrich for “Herod’s Pools.”
Another natural spring near Nablus, Wadi al-Badhan, also faces problems. Settlers recently visited this spring in large numbers. Nizam Fares, who owns a park there, said people are now scared to visit.
Most governments and the United Nations view Israeli settlements as illegal. Israel sees the territory as disputed. These water seizures are part of wider tensions in the region.
