Area A security boundaries were previously considered secure until a cabinet directive asserted Israeli control over Rachel's Tomb inside Bethlehem earlier this year.
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Debate Over Historical Heritage
During his visit to the reservoirs, Smotrich expressed dissatisfaction with the historical framework governing the ancient landmark.
"We are working hard to repair the terrible damage caused by the Oslo Accords disaster," he said.
Alon Arad, an Israeli archaeologist and executive director of Emek Shaveh, expressed concern that the historic asset is being utilized for political leverage against the original accords.
"This site is being weaponised in order to erode and basically cancel the Oslo agreement," he said.
Arad further pointed out that the West Bank contains approximately 6,000 ancient historical locations, with only a small fraction representing a direct connection to Jewish heritage.
Proponents of an Israeli takeover argue that the site is falling into disrepair under current administration, while Palestinian authorities note that funding shortages occurred after tax revenues were withheld.
Historical records indicate that the name Solomon's Pools is technically a misnomer, as King Solomon is estimated to have lived centuries before the actual construction began.
Eman al-Titi, the head of Bethlehem's tourism and antiquities department, clarified that the name historically referenced the Ottoman sultan, Suleiman the Magnificent, who restored the region's water supply.
"Archaeological sites should never become instruments of political conflict," al-Titi said.
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The tourism chief emphasized that the dispute involves attempts to reshape regional history by promoting a single narrative that does not reflect the diverse civilisations contributing to Palestine's cultural heritage.
