Solomon’s Pools, an ancient water supply system built over 2,000 years ago, has become a flashpoint in the fight over Israel’s biblical heritage. The site, located between the Israeli town of Efrat and Bethlehem, is currently under Palestinian Authority control, but Israeli officials are accusing the Palestinian Authority of allowing the site to deteriorate.

History of Solomon’s Pools

Solomon’s Pools were built during the Hasmonean period in the second century B.C. to supply water to Jerusalem during the Second Temple period. The pools were later expanded by Herod the Great to provide water to his palace-fortress at Herodium.

The pools are a significant archaeological site, with three ancient reservoirs that collectively hold approximately 288,000 cubic meters of water. However, the site has fallen into disrepair, with signs of neglect and sewage contamination.

Dispute Over Control

The dispute over Solomon’s Pools is part of a larger struggle between Israeli and Palestinian authorities over control of historic sites in the West Bank. The site was placed under Palestinian Authority control as part of the 1993 Oslo Accords, but Israeli officials argue that the site is an important part of Jewish heritage and should be under Israeli control.

Yonatan Marcus, chief of staff of the Efrat Municipality, said that the Palestinian Authority has failed to protect the site and has allowed it to deteriorate. He accused the Palestinian Authority of deliberately diverting sewage into the pools, replacing the fresh water that once flowed there.

Ahmad Fattouh, a spokesman for the Palestinian Authority, rejected these allegations, saying that the Israeli authorities are responsible for the decline of the site. He said that the Palestinian Authority has restored the site and developed it as a tourist destination.

Original reporting: Fox News (HLL/CB) — read the source article.