Israeli settlers take over water springs in West Bank: UN report

“Palestinians have been deterred from accessing the springs by acts of intimidation, threats and violence perpetrated by Israeli settlers,” said a Monday report published by the UN Office for Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA).

At least 30 springs in the West Bank are “completely taken over” by Israeli settlers and Palestinian residents are unable to gain access to the sources “at all,” the report added.

The OCHA report also said the springs have remained the “single largest water source for irrigation and a significant source for watering livestock” for Palestinians.

“The loss of access to springs and adjacent land reduced the income of affected farmers, who either stop cultivating the land or face a reduction in the productivity of their crops.”

Israeli settlers have “undertaken” an effort to turn some of the areas with natural springs into tourist attraction spots, constructing pools, picnic areas and signs carrying a “Hebrew name” for the spring sources, the OCHA said.

The UN report stated that the takeover of springs in the West Bank is “an extension” of illegal Israeli settlement activities in the occupied Palestinian territory.

OCHA called on Israeli authorities to stop settlement expansions and “restore Palestinian access to the water springs taken over by settlers.”