Latest news with #JerusalemGovernorateWaterUtility
Middle East Eye
7 days ago
- Politics
- Middle East Eye
‘Policy to displace us': How settler attacks are drying up the West Bank
Standing beside the dry land that once fed his 120 sheep, Montaser al-Malki dreads the next Israeli settler attack. A farmer in Kafr Malik, northeast of Ramallah, Malki is one of thousands of Palestinians caught in a worsening water crisis in the occupied West Bank, caused by systematic settler sabotage. In recent weeks, Israeli settlers have repeatedly attacked Ein Samia, a key spring that supplies dozens of villages. They have destroyed pipes, pumps and access roads, cutting off clean water to entire communities. On Monday, the Jerusalem Governorate Water Utility announced a complete shutdown of water pumping from Ein Samia. The Water Authority said it has lost all technical and administrative control over the system. New MEE newsletter: Jerusalem Dispatch Sign up to get the latest insights and analysis on Israel-Palestine, alongside Turkey Unpacked and other MEE newsletters Water, once a lifeline, has become a tool of displacement, Palestinians say. 'I have a family of nine, and I own crops and livestock,' said Malki. 'Our economic situation is dire. We're exhausted by the seizure of pastures.' Water supply cuts, sometimes lasting more than 10 days, have forced farmers like Malki to buy water from expensive tanks, and most of it is unfit for drinking. 'We fear the settlers' permanent control over Ein Samia,' he told Middle East Eye. 'If I rely on tanked water, I won't last a month. I'll go bankrupt.' Water crisis Najeh Rustum, head of Kafr Malik council, warned the crisis could soon affect over 100,000 Palestinians. Ein Samia is one of the most important water sources in the West Bank, he said. For more than 50 years, six wells have provided drinking water to the area. Those wells are now out of service. Repair crews face daily threats from settlers, making maintenance nearly impossible. 'This is a serious water crisis,' said Rustum. 'If no one intervenes, hundreds of thousands risk losing access to water.' Israeli settlers swim in the Ein Samiyah spring near the village of Kafr Malik, in the occupied West Bank, on 15 July 2025 (AFP/Zain Jaafar) The attacks aren't new. In 2022, settlers established an outpost near Ein Samia. Since then, violence has escalated, from harassment and theft to the destruction of infrastructure. 'In 2023, during the Gaza war, settlers destroyed major pipes and blocked access to the spring,' Rustum said. 'This year, attacks have doubled. We've documented at least nine strikes on pumps and wells, all under Israeli army protection.' In the latest attack, Israeli settlers bulldozed the western entrance of Umm Safa, northwest of Ramallah, cutting the main water line and leaving the village's 750 residents without water. Marwan Sabah, head of the local council, told Middle East Eye that the outage lasted over six hours. 'This is part of a systematic policy to displace us and seize our land' - Marwan Sabah, Umm Safa village council head Israeli forces, he said, initially prevented residents from repairing the damage, later allowing only a temporary fix. That repair could collapse at any time, he said. Meanwhile, the village remains isolated, with its entrances closed by Israeli forces since October 2023. Sabah said the water cut was no accident. 'This is part of a systematic policy to displace us and seize our land,' he told MEE. In contrast, settlers who recently set up an illegal outpost on Jabal al-Ras hilltop in the same village enjoy full services, including water, electricity, and growing numbers of mobile homes. Roads have been bulldozed, and cement trucks brought in to reinforce their presence. More than 700,000 settlers live in the West Bank, in violation of international law, compared to approximately 3.2 million Palestinians. Raed Muqadi, a researcher at the Land Research Center, said Israel's water policy is one of the most dangerous tools of land control and demographic engineering in the West Bank. He said that Israel is building water transport roads and new networks to supply expanding settlements. This has drained local springs and water basins. 'In Al-Auja in the Jordan Valley, 112 Bedouin families now live without access to water,' Muqadi said. 'They've been displaced, their livestock confined, and their agricultural practices drastically changed, due to the scarcity.'
Days of Palestine
21-07-2025
- Politics
- Days of Palestine
Major West Bank Water System Serving 100,000 Palestinians Shut Down after Settler Attack
DaysofPal – A critical water supply serving over 100,000 Palestinians has been completely shut down following systematic attacks on vital infrastructure by Israeli settlers. The Jerusalem Governorate Water Utility announced Monday that it has been forced to halt all pumping operations at the Ain Samia facility, located east of Kafr Malik in the northeastern Ramallah area. The utility said it has lost complete technical and administrative control over the water system after a series of coordinated assaults on electrical networks, pumping equipment, and surveillance systems. The attacks have disrupted internet and telecommunications services throughout the region, making it dangerous for technical crews to access the site and attempt repairs. Sunday's latest incident saw settlers vandalize security cameras and damage critical water infrastructure at the facility. Ain Samia represents a cornerstone of the region's water supply, housing five active wells ranging from 100 to 500 meters deep. The facility produces approximately 12,000 cubic meters of water daily, roughly 17% of all water managed by the Jerusalem Governorate Water Utility. The shutdown directly affects 19 Palestinian communities, including Deir Dibwan, Burqa, Beitin, and Al-Taybeh. An additional 14 areas receive water through connection to the Ramallah Station, including the Jalazone Refugee Camp and Birzeit University. In total, the Ain Samia system serves an estimated 110,000 people either fully or partially. Water utility officials have issued urgent appeals to local and international organizations, calling for immediate intervention to protect Palestinian water resources. They warn that continued attacks could trigger a humanitarian catastrophe, potentially depriving more than 70,000 residents of their basic right to clean water. The facility's strategic importance extends beyond its immediate service area, as it helps maintain water pressure and supply stability across northern and eastern sections of the Ramallah and Al-Bireh governorates. Officials said the attacks are part of a systematic campaign of sabotage and called for international pressure to halt what they characterized as deliberate targeting of civilian infrastructure essential for daily life. The water authority emphasized that restoring service depends not only on repairing damaged equipment but also on ensuring the safety of technical personnel who must access the remote facility to conduct maintenance and monitoring operations. Shortlink for this post:
