Holy Land battle: Solomon's Pools become flashpoint in fight over Israel's biblical heritage

Solomon's Pools, ancient water reservoirs near Efrat and Bethlehem, are at the center of a dispute between Israeli officials and the Palestinian Authority over jurisdiction and preservation. The site, under Palestinian civil and security control in Area A since the 1993 Oslo Accords, is accused of neglect and sewage contamination by Efrat's mayor and municipality, who argue it should remain under Israeli control to protect its historical and touristic value.