From our correspondent in the West Bank
Eyad Hamad
9 giugno 2026

Faced with yet another attempt by the Israeli government to appropriate Palestinian land, the Palestinian Authority’s condemnation and denunciation data have been lost.

The mayor of Bethlehem, Hanna Hanania, however, wanted to make a statement in front of our cameras on the occasion of an initiative by Palestinian volunteers in defense of the Solomon’s Pools.

Bethlehem institutions organized a volunteer work day to clean Solomon’s Pools in Bethlehem. This activity comes in response to statements by Israeli finance minister Smotrich, who announced his intention to annex Solomon’s Pools to Israeli sovereignty under the guise of archaeological projects.

History cannot be stolen

The Israeli Finance Minister’s statements are part of an ongoing assault on Palestinian lands and antiquities. It should be noted that the area falls under the jurisdiction of the Palestinian Authority.

Solomon’s Pools are a historic complex of three large water reservoirs located near the village of Artas, south of Bethlehem.

Although traditionally associated with King Solomon, archaeological evidence suggests that the pools were built and expanded during the Hellenistic and Roman periods, roughly between the 2nd century BCE and the 1st century CE. They formed part of an advanced water-supply system that transported water to Jerusalem and the surrounding region.

During the Ottoman era, the reservoirs and aqueducts were extensively restored and improved under Suleiman the Magnificent in 1536–1537 CE, which contributed to the site’s association with his name.

The complex consists of three interconnected stepped reservoirs designed to collect spring water and rainfall. For centuries, they played a vital role in supplying water to Bethlehem, Jerusalem, and nearby communities.

 

Adjacent to the pools stands Murad Castle, an Ottoman-era fortress built to protect the water system. Solomon’s Pools are an ancient hydraulic engineering project dating back over 2,000 years, with major Ottoman restorations carried out in the 16th century under Suleiman the Magnificent.

Eyad Hamad
‏‪eyad.h158@gmail.com‬‏
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