West Bank spring diverted without authorization to ancient Herod pool

Israeli settlers have increasingly sought control of natural springs and heritage sites in the occupied West Bank, which Palestinian communities depend on for drinking water, irrigation and tourism. This summer, water from a spring serving Fasayil was diverted without authorization to fill a nearby ancient pool promoted as a tourist attraction named for Herod; a settlement-monitoring group says the privately owned land is in Area C, under full Israeli military control. Farmer Saad Nemer said the loss of water devastated his fields, and Israel’s COGAT agency acknowledged the diversion and said it would investigate. The dispute reflects broader tensions over access to land and resources, as other springs have also become flashpoints for violence.