Israeli settlers in the occupied West Bank have increased efforts to take control of natural springs and heritage sites, according to reports from rights groups and international observers. In one instance during the summer of 2026, water from a natural spring serving the Palestinian village of Fasayil was diverted to fill an ancient pool near the Petzael settlement. The site was subsequently named after King Herod by those who diverted the water. While the pool is located in Area C under Israeli military control, research by the watchdog group Kerem Navot stated the land is privately owned.
The Israeli government has allocated at least $166 million for excavations and infrastructure at more than 100 West Bank sites that Heritage Minister Amichai Eliyahu said are linked to Jewish heritage. During a visit to the Fasayil pool, Eliyahu stated that approximately $1 million of these funds was earmarked for the site's rehabilitation. He praised the group that diverted the water and announced that archaeologists from the Civil Administration—the Israeli military body managing West Bank affairs—would conduct a full survey of the site after draining the pool in October 2026.
Palestinian residents and farmers report that these takeovers have caused significant disruptions to their livelihoods. Saad Nemer, a farmer from Fasayil, stated that the water diversion has devastated his fields, while Murad al-Juba of Al Auja said settler encroachment has forced him to abandon crops like cantaloupes and bananas. COGAT, the Israeli military body overseeing civil issues, acknowledged the Fasayil water was diverted "without authorization" and stated it would investigate the matter. The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs reported in July 2026 that settlers had damaged or seized approximately 160 water and sanitation structures in Palestinian communities during the year.
The dispute carries broader implications for territorial control and the preservation of cultural history. The Israeli rights group B'Tselem stated that heritage designations are used to emphasize historical and religious ties to the land, while Alon Arad of the group Emek Shaveh described the naming of sites as an attempt to "brand" them as part of Jewish history. These actions occur against a backdrop of international criticism; in September 2026, the British government accused Israel of ignoring violence that has displaced Palestinians. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has attributed such violence to a "handful of rioters" rather than the broader settler population.
What happens next depends on the findings of investigations by Israeli military authorities and the results of scheduled archaeological surveys. The Civil Administration plan to drain the Fasayil pool for a survey is set for the period following the Jewish holidays in early October 2026. Additionally, the U.S. Department of State's 2023 human rights report noted that while some steps are taken to punish abuses, rights groups continue to criticize the lack of accountability for violence committed by settlers in the West Bank. The outcome of these investigations and the continued allocation of heritage funding will determine future access to these water sources and historical sites.