Israeli lawmakers have promoted visits to an ancient reservoir in the West Bank refilled this summer with water diverted from Palestinian-owned farms. On a hot August morning, an Israeli teenager performed a backflip into the cool water of the pool, filled with water diverted from local farms. Farmers used to grow watermelons, eggplants and cucumbers in the Jordan Valley. But in June, their main irrigation source — a pipeline bringing spring water — was severed and redirected to the reservoir.

Saad Nemer, a 69-year-old farmer, watched his crops wither as water flowed into the pool instead. During a visit last month, dozens of Israelis splashed around while picnicking nearby, trespassing on private land. An Israeli lawmaker promoted visiting the site as an enjoyable means of "occupying the land." Settlers have vandalized water and sanitation systems at least 80 times this year, according to United Nations data. Nemer sought help from the Israeli military Civil Administration, which stated the pipeline would be reconnected but did not demand trespassers be evicted. Israeli forces eventually reconnected the pipeline, but water was sabotaged again after only a day. Much of the area remained unfenced during a recent visit. Nemer expressed fear about reconnecting the pipe himself, worried settlers would beat him up.

The pool sits on private property, yet an Israeli lawmaker recently promoted visiting as an enjoyable way of "occupying the land." Settlers from a nearby outpost refused to comment. Over the past three years, extremist settlers have violently driven thousands of Palestinians from their homes.

No one claimed responsibility for cutting the pipe, though Israeli settlers have celebrated the refilling in videos shared on social media. One Israeli lawmaker said "heroic settlers" had returned the pool to "Jewish hands."