Israel threatens to seize ancient water reservoirs near Bethlehem

July 19, 2026 Pam Rogers

Julian Borger and Quique Kierszenbaum in Artas, West Bank. The Guardian

Sun 19 Jul 2026 02.00 EDT

Israel is threatening to seize ancient water reservoirs near Bethlehem, in what would be a significant escalation in an intensifying campaign for control of West Bank land and the Middle East’s historical narrative.

Since Israel’s extremist finance minister, Bezalel Smotrich, made an explicit threat in May to “erase” the agreements that confirmed Palestinian ownership of Solomon’s Pools more than 30 years ago, Israeli settlers and troops have stepped up their presence around the spectacular site.

Israel is threatening to seize ancient water reservoirs near Bethlehem, in what would be a significant escalation in an intensifying campaign for control of West Bank land and the Middle East’s historical narrative.

Since Israel’s extremist finance minister, Bezalel Smotrich, made an explicit threat in May to “erase” the agreements that confirmed Palestinian ownership of Solomon’s Pools more than 30 years ago, Israeli settlers and troops have stepped up their presence around the spectacular site.

The pale stone Mandate-era pumping station now stands abandoned in the wooded hills of the area and the pools, more than 10 metres deep in places, no longer funnel water to Jerusalem, but have become the main source of recreation in the area.

On a recent afternoon, children from the neighbouring villages of Artas and al-Khader took running jumps off the stone walls of the middle pool into the deep green water, while a handful of men fished amid the reeds off the ramparts on the other side.

Read the entire Guardian article here.

Taking a cue from Florida...

July 17, 2026 Pam Rogers

The Israeli government has stripped Nile crocodiles of their protected status, paving the way for a proposal to build a detention facility for Palestinians surrounded by the reptiles, Israeli media reported on Thursday.

Environment Minister Idit Silman signed a decree on Wednesday reclassifying Nile crocodiles as a "specially managed wild animal" - a new legal category that allows the state to keep the animals for security purposes, according to Israeli news site Ynet.

Good on them...

July 17, 2026 Pam Rogers

Spain, Mexico, Ireland, and Belgium have formally submitted declarations or applications to intervene in South Africa’s case against Israel at the International Court of Justice (ICJ), according to official court records and widely reported international media.

Under Article 63 of the ICJ Statute, states that are parties to the 1948 Genocide Convention may request to intervene in proceedings when the interpretation of the treaty is at issue. Such interventions allow states to present their legal interpretation of the Convention to the Court. They do not make the intervening states co-plaintiffs alongside South Africa.

The ICJ will determine the admissibility and scope of each intervention in accordance with its rules and procedures. The underlying case remains ongoing, and the Court has not yet issued a final judgment on the merits.

What role should international courts play in resolving disputes involving alleged violations of international law?

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Shared for educational, informational, and journalistic purposes only. This post summarizes publicly available information regarding ICJ procedures. A declaration of intervention under Article 63 allows a state to present its interpretation of the Genocide Convention and does not make it a co-applicant or determine the outcome of the case.

#ICJ #SouthAfrica #Spain #Ireland #Belgium #Mexico #InternationalLaw #WorldNews

In London...amazing sign

July 15, 2026 Pam Rogers

Julian Borger and Quique Kierszenbaum in Artas, West Bank. The Guardian

Sun 19 Jul 2026 02.00 EDT

Israel is threatening to seize ancient water reservoirs near Bethlehem, in what would be a significant escalation in an intensifying campaign for control of West Bank land and the Middle East’s historical narrative.

Since Israel’s extremist finance minister, Bezalel Smotrich, made an explicit threat in May to “erase” the agreements that confirmed Palestinian ownership of Solomon’s Pools more than 30 years ago, Israeli settlers and troops have stepped up their presence around the spectacular site.

Israel is threatening to seize ancient water reservoirs near Bethlehem, in what would be a significant escalation in an intensifying campaign for control of West Bank land and the Middle East’s historical narrative.

Since Israel’s extremist finance minister, Bezalel Smotrich, made an explicit threat in May to “erase” the agreements that confirmed Palestinian ownership of Solomon’s Pools more than 30 years ago, Israeli settlers and troops have stepped up their presence around the spectacular site.

The pale stone Mandate-era pumping station now stands abandoned in the wooded hills of the area and the pools, more than 10 metres deep in places, no longer funnel water to Jerusalem, but have become the main source of recreation in the area.

On a recent afternoon, children from the neighbouring villages of Artas and al-Khader took running jumps off the stone walls of the middle pool into the deep green water, while a handful of men fished amid the reeds off the ramparts on the other side.

Read the entire Guardian article here.

The Israeli government has stripped Nile crocodiles of their protected status, paving the way for a proposal to build a detention facility for Palestinians surrounded by the reptiles, Israeli media reported on Thursday.

Spain, Mexico, Ireland, and Belgium have formally submitted declarations or applications to intervene in South Africa’s case against Israel at the International Court of Justice (ICJ), according to official court records and widely reported international media.

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