Full Breakdown
Israeli Settlers Seize Palestinian Springs, Turning Them into Recreational Pools
8/14/2026, 10:35:27 PM
Seizure of the Fasayil Spring and Creation of a Tourist Pool
On August 14, Israeli settlers redirected water from a spring that had long irrigated the village of Fasayil in the Jordan Valley. The settlers took farmer Saad Nemer’s irrigation pipeline, diverted the flow to an ancient pool at an archaeological site, and began using the pool as a swimming area.
Background and Context
The West Bank has been under Israeli military administration since the 1967 war; Israel describes the territory as “disputed,” while the United Nations and most governments deem the settlements illegal under international law. Access to natural water sources is critical for Palestinian agriculture and domestic use, especially in the Jordan Valley where springs have traditionally supplied farms and households.
Data and Statistics
- United Nations data show that settlers have attacked at least 160 water and sanitation sites across the Palestinian territories this year.
- Field researcher Fares Foqahaa estimates that settlers now control 95 % of springs in the northern Jordan Valley.
- The Smotrich-funded project allocates 3 million shekels (approximately $1 million) for the pool’s development.
Official Statements & Responses
Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich announced the investment on a public billboard, describing the work as the restoration of “Herod’s Pools.” The Israeli Civil Administration (COGAT) and Smotrich did not respond to requests for comment. The United Nations continues to label settlement activity, including water-resource seizures, as illegal under the laws of military occupation. Israel maintains that the West Bank’s status is contested and rejects the characterization of its settlements as unlawful.
Criticism and Opposition
Palestinian farmer Saad Nemer reports that the loss of the spring has halted planting of eggplant, zucchini and watermelons, leaving his fields fallow and threatening the livelihoods of multiple families. He also recounts that an employee was beaten by settlers and that he has faced threats when attempting to approach the spring.
Adel Yassin, an official with the Palestinian Authority’s water authority, described the pattern as a deliberate “water war” intended to make Palestinian communities economically unsustainable.
Archaeologist Alon Arad of the Israeli rights group Emek Shaveh warned that filling the archaeological site with water could damage the remains and that archaeology is sometimes used to reinforce the perception that the West Bank is exclusively Jewish.
Verbatim Quotes
- “Our water supply remains cut off to this day, depriving us of the water we depend on for our homes, our livelihoods, and our agricultural land,” — Saad Nemer
- “They are now in the process of developing a recreational park around the pool,” — Saad Nemer
- “We see in many cases the use of archaeology ... to create this feeling that the West Bank is exclusively Jewish,” — Alon Arad
Impact on Palestinian Communities
The seizure of the Fasayil spring has forced Nemer’s greenhouses and fields to remain unplanted, depriving his household and neighboring families of income. Near Nablus, the natural springs at Wadi al-Badhan—traditionally a popular gathering place—were visited by hundreds of settlers earlier this summer. Residents such as Nizam Fares, owner of a local spring park, say Palestinians now feel “scared and jumpy,” fearing settler presence.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
Both COGAT and Finance Minister Smotrich declined to comment on the land-ownership documents presented by Nemer, which include a 2025 COGAT title and a 1957 registration map. The lack of official response leaves the legal status of the spring and pool unresolved.
