Israel begins development of 'Herod's Pools' site in West Bank amid land and water dispute
Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich announced that work has begun on developing Herod's Pools near Fasayil in the occupied West Bank, a project costing over NIS 3 million. Al Jazeera says the pool was filled by settlers diverting water from a Palestinian farmer's land, while the Jerusalem Post presents it as heritage and tourism work.
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The story, neutrally told
Mixed · 2Work began on Sunday 4 October 2026 on a development and preservation project at Herod's Pools, a spring and reservoir site in the occupied West Bank near Jericho, announced by Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich. Al JazeeraLC “On Sunday, Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, a far-right settler, announced that “development and preservation” of Herod’s Pool had commenced” Read at Al Jazeera ↗ The Jerusalem PostRC “The renovation of Herod's Pools, located near the Petzael Springs, began on Sunday” Read at The Jerusalem Post ↗ Mixed · 2The project has a budget of over NIS 3 million (almost $1m), which Smotrich pledged in June, and will develop the spring area and the lower pools. The Jerusalem PostRC “A budget of over NIS 3 million was secured for the project, which will be used to develop the areas of the spring and the lower pools.” Read at The Jerusalem Post ↗ Al JazeeraLC “The announcement follows Smotrich’s June pledge of more than three million shekels (almost $1m) to develop the site” Read at Al Jazeera ↗ Right · 1Before work started, officials from the Settlement Administration, the Defense Ministry's Civil Administration and Smotrich's representatives toured the site, as did MK Zvi Sukkot, chairman of the Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee. The Jerusalem PostRC “senior officials from the Settlement Administration, the Defense Ministry's Civil Administration, and Smotrich's representatives conducted a tour of the site” Read at The Jerusalem Post ↗
Right · 1Smotrich described the project as part of a wider effort to strengthen Israeli presence at and protect historic sites and turn them into tourist destinations for hundreds of thousands of visitors; Sukkot called the earlier neglect of the site "an injustice" and urged Israelis to come and swim. The Jerusalem PostRC “to strengthen our presence at and protect historic sites, while transforming them into thriving, safe, and accessible tourist destinations for hundreds of thousands of visitors”“I call on all Israelis to come in large numbers, to hike, swim, and connect with our roots.” Read at The Jerusalem Post ↗ Mixed · 2Al Jazeera reports that the pool was filled over the summer after settlers illegally diverted water from the Palestinian village of Fasayil; the Jerusalem Post says only that settlers reportedly diverted water from nearby Palestinian homes, drawing international scrutiny. Al JazeeraLC “filled after settlers illegally diverted water from a Palestinian village over the summer” Read at Al Jazeera ↗ The Jerusalem PostRC “settlers reportedly diverted water from nearby Palestinian homes to fill the pool and turn it into a functional swimming spot” Read at The Jerusalem Post ↗ Left · 1According to Al Jazeera, the reservoir sits on land owned by Palestinian farmer Saad Nemer and his family, whose ownership claim is supported by Israeli-issued documentation and older title records reviewed by Reuters; Nemer says settlers stole his irrigation pipeline, scorched his farmland and emptied his greenhouses, threatened him and beat an employee. Al JazeeraLC “Israeli-issued documentation and older title records reviewed by Reuters support the family’s ownership claim.”“Nemer also said that settlers had threatened him and beat one of his employees.” Read at Al Jazeera ↗
Left · 1COGAT, the Israeli military body administering the West Bank, acknowledged the water was diverted "without authorisation" and said it would investigate; Nemer told The New York Times that water was restored for only one day before being cut off again. Al JazeeraLC “COGAT, has acknowledged that the water was diverted “without authorisation” and said it would investigate”“it returned for only one day before being cut off again” Read at Al Jazeera ↗ Left · 1The pool's origins are unclear: Al Jazeera says archaeologists have not established when it was built, and Alon Arad of the Israeli NGO Emek Shaveh told Reuters that Israel often uses archaeology to create a feeling that the West Bank is exclusively Jewish. Al JazeeraLC “archaeologists have not established when the pool was built”“We see in many cases the use of archaeology … to create this feeling that the West Bank is exclusively Jewish” Read at Al Jazeera ↗ Right · 1The Jerusalem Post places the project within a broader government push on West Bank heritage tourism, including NIS 113 million approved in August for over 70 heritage sites and a NIS 3.2 million "Joshua Trail" whose cornerstone was laid two weeks earlier at Eilon Moreh. The Jerusalem PostRC “In August, the steering committee approved the allocation of NIS 113 million to develop over 70 heritage sites across the West Bank”“Two weeks ago, the cornerstone of Eilon Moreh's new “Joshua Trail” was laid” Read at The Jerusalem Post ↗
Left · 1Al Jazeera links the project to other heritage sites such as Herodium, Sebastia and the Ibrahimi Mosque in Hebron, and says Palestinians see the targeting of water sources as part of a plan to seize West Bank resources. Al JazeeraLC “Palestinians say the targeting of their water sources is part of a comprehensive plan to seize the resources of the occupied West Bank and force them off their land.” Read at Al Jazeera ↗
Every sentence links to the reporting it rests on. The pill in front of each says where its sources sit: Left, Centre or Right when one side supplies at least half of them, Mixed when they are evenly split. The number is how many outlets it cites.
Left1 outlet
- Framing
- Explainer on why Israel is developing a pool that, it says, was filled by illegally diverted Palestinian water on privately owned Palestinian land, set within a pattern of archaeology-based land seizure.
- Emphasis
- Farmer Saad Nemer's account, land title evidence, COGAT's admission of unauthorised diversion, settler violence, and other heritage sites such as Sebastia and Hebron.
- Leaves out or plays down
- Does not give the tourism and funding context (NIS 113 million for over 70 sites, Biblical Trails) or Sukkot's statements.
- Charged language
- “illegally diverted”“monopolisation of water resources”“far-right settler”“The Settlement Revolution continues!”
- For example
-
“The illegal diversion of water to the pool is part of Israel’s monopolisation of water resources in the occupied West Bank’s fertile Jordan Valley.” — Al Jazeera
Centre0 outlets
No centre outlet in our sources has covered this story yet.
Right1 outlet
- Framing
- Reports the start of a multi-million shekel renovation as part of a government push to promote West Bank heritage and tourism.
- Emphasis
- Smotrich and Sukkot's statements, funding figures and related tourism projects; invites Israelis to visit and swim.
- Leaves out or plays down
- Does not mention the farmer's land ownership, COGAT's acknowledgement that the diversion was unauthorised, or the threats and violence alleged; the diversion is mentioned in one line as 'reportedly'.
- Charged language
- “injustice”“Zionist act of the highest order”“Judea and Samaria”“thriving, safe, and accessible tourist destinations”
- For example
-
“Earlier this summer, the site came under international scrutiny after settlers reportedly diverted water from nearby Palestinian homes” — The Jerusalem Post
What every side reports
- Work on developing Herod's Pools began on Sunday under an initiative led by Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich.
- The budget is over NIS 3 million.
- Settlers diverted water from nearby Palestinian property to fill the pool over the summer.
Where accounts differ
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Nature of the project and the water diversion
- Left
- Settlers illegally diverted water from Fasayil; the pool is on a Palestinian farmer's privately owned land, and the project formalises a seizure in the name of heritage.
- Right
- A heritage preservation and tourism project that strengthens Jewish presence; the diversion is mentioned only as something settlers 'reportedly' did, and repairs will ensure 'continued flow of water' for swimmers.
-
Link to King Herod
- Left
- Settlers claim it once belonged to Herod; archaeologists have not established when it was built.
- Right
- Treated as a Jewish heritage site named Herod's Pools, without discussion of its origins.
Bezalel Smotrich person
Presents the project as heritage preservation and a way to strengthen settlements and Israeli presence, and tourism, 'through action'; Al Jazeera quotes his post 'The Settlement Revolution continues!'.
“We are strengthening the settlements not through words, but through action, and through millions of shekels invested on the ground.” — The Jerusalem Post
““The Settlement Revolution continues!” he declared in a social media post” — Al Jazeera
Herod's Pools other
A site called Herod's Pools by Israeli officials; Al Jazeera says settlers named it and its origins are unestablished, and the JPost calls it a Jewish heritage site being renovated.
“Herod’s Pool is the name Israeli settlers have given an ancient reservoir that lies in the Palestinian village of Fasayil.” — Al Jazeera
Middle East1 outlet
Al Jazeera frames the project as part of Israeli control over Palestinian water and land.
“It also marks the latest Israeli seizure of Palestinian land in the name of archaeological heritage.” — Al Jazeera
Al Jazeera
Israel1 outlet
The Jerusalem Post frames it as heritage preservation and tourism promotion.
“The move comes as part of a wider trend of governmental moves to promote tourism and preserve heritage sites in the West Bank.” — The Jerusalem Post
The Jerusalem Post
Left1 article
-
What is ‘Herod’s Pool’, and why is Israel developing it in the West Bank?
Critical Explainer that treats the project as formalising a settler water diversion and land seizure, centred on the Palestinian landowner.
Centre0 articles
No coverage yet.
Right1 article
-
Multi-million Herod’s Pools renovation project begins amid gov’t push to promote West Bank tourism
Sympathetic Reports the project as heritage and tourism development led by Smotrich, quoting officials and giving little space to the water and land dispute.
- 5 Oct 19:24 First Al JazeeraLC What is ‘Herod’s Pool’, and why is Israel developing it in the West Bank?
- 6 Oct 11:04 +15h 40m The Jerusalem PostRC Multi-million Herod’s Pools renovation project begins amid gov’t push to promote West Bank tourism
Times are when each article was published, or when we first saw it if the outlet gave no time.