US Seeks Netanyahu Condemnation Over Settler Seizure of Palestinian Water Spring

In the Jordan Valley, Israeli settlers have diverted a crucial water spring from the Palestinian village of Fasayil, creating a pool for an Israeli tourist attraction. The spring, a lifeline for generations of Palestinian farmers, has been seized, leaving fields barren and livelihoods threatened.

“

Our water supply remains cut off to this day, depriving us of the water we depend on for our homes, our livelihoods, and our agricultural land.

Saad Nemer, a local farmer, described how settlers confiscated his irrigation pipeline in June, channeling the water to the spring. "Our water supply remains cut off to this day, depriving us of the water we depend on for our homes, our livelihoods, and our agricultural land," he told Reuters. Nemer’s greenhouses, usually filled with produce, are now unplanted due to the lack of water. He also reported instances of employees being beaten and facing threats from settlers.

“

They are now in the process of developing a recreational park around the pool.

This incident is part of a broader pattern, with UN data indicating settlers have targeted at least 160 water and sanitation sites across the Palestinian territories this year. Yishai Shreiber, a settler who visited the pool, asserted that the West Bank belongs to the Jewish people and suggested Palestinians should leave if they do not accept Jewish authority. Nemer presented land ownership documents dating back to 1957 and a 2025 COGAT document, showing his claim to the spring and pool area. Israeli officials did not respond to requests for comment.

“

The settlers cutting off our water has caused us losses and has meant that many families will lose their work and their livelihoods.