A new article by Lt. Col. (res.) Maurice Hirsch argues the historic site, linked to King Solomon, could have been a major tourism and revenue source for Bethlehem but was ignored and allowed to deteriorate under PA management. Hirsch calls for restoration and free Israeli access regardless of administrative status.
A newly published op-ed by Lt. Col. (res.) Maurice Hirsch, a senior researcher at the Jerusalem Center for Foreign and Security Affairs (JCFA), charges that Solomon's Pools — an ancient water system supplying Jerusalem and named after King Solomon — has been neglected during three decades of Palestinian Authority management. Hirsch states the PA "could have turned Bethlehem, including Solomon's Pools, into a major tourist destination and a significant source of income, but chose to ignore the site and allow it to deteriorate" despite its historical, archaeological, and touristic importance. The article also addresses the broader implications of the Oslo Accords and the struggle over the site's historical narrative. Hirsch concludes that regardless of the site's administrative status, its restoration, maintenance, and safe, free access for Israelis must be ensured.
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Source and signal
- Internal intake