Far-right settlers divert West Bank spring water as Israel backs heritage site takeovers

West Bank natural springs and ancient pools provide relief from summer heat and are vital for Palestinian communities. Israeli settlers, backed by a hard-line government, have increased efforts to seize these springs and heritage sites. In one incident, water from a Palestinian village's spring was illegally diverted to an ancient pool named after Herod, a Roman-appointed king of Judea.

The land is under full Israeli military control, and research indicates it was privately owned. The diverted water has devastated Palestinian farmland. Israeli authorities acknowledged the illegal diversion and promised to investigate. Conflicts over swimming areas have also arisen, such as when an Israeli father was killed by a Palestinian at a spring in the northern West Bank.

Israel funds Jewish heritage projects in the West Bank, despite international condemnation of the settlements as illegal. The push to take over heritage sites is part of a broader effort to elevate Israel's historical and cultural ties to the West Bank, according to an Israeli rights group. The government plans to allocate over $1 million to rehabilitate the disputed pool, while critics argue that resources should be directed towards addressing Palestinian needs.