Ealkin Calls for Israeli Control to Be Restored at Solomon's Pools

Minister and member of the security cabinet Ze'ev Elkin called on Sunday for Israel to regain control of the historic Solomon's Pools site near Efrat. He made the remarks during a special tour of Efrat and the adjacent pools with Efrat local council head Dovi Shafler, saying the visit was meant to highlight the site's historical, tourism and strategic importance.

Elkin said the site's legal and political status has been complicated since the 1990s because, in his account, a technical error in the agreements assigned it to the Palestinian Authority. He said that since the Oslo Accords, regular access to Solomon's Pools had been blocked, even though the original understandings placed it in Area C.

"Only because of the mistake in marking the maps did they end up in Area A," Elkin said. "It is time to correct the distortion that has formed over the years and restore control of Solomon's Pools to Israel, so we can stop the neglect of this important site, rehabilitate it and make it accessible to the Israeli public."

The visit also underscored close coordination between Elkin and the local leadership in Efrat. At the end of the meeting, Shafler thanked Elkin for his long-standing support for Efrat and its residents, and for his work in public office over the years. He also wished Elkin success in the coming primaries, saying he hoped he would continue working for Israel and for the development and expansion of settlement in Judea and Samaria.