NIS 100 Million in Fines: Crackdown on Water Theft in the West Bank

The Civil Administration has stepped up enforcement against illegal drilling in Judea and Samaria. Hundreds of connections were disconnected, and the Palestinian Authority was fined NIS 100 million.

In recent months, the Civil Administration has been working to expand enforcement against water theft and illegal drilling in Judea and Samaria, as part of efforts to maintain a regular water supply and proper operation of the water system in the area ahead of the summer months. As part of enforcement operations carried out in recent months, dozens of illegal drillings and more than 400 unauthorized water connections were identified. According to the Civil Administration, some of the connections caused damage to water infrastructure and even created sanitation and health risks.

In every case where illegal infrastructure was identified, personnel from the unit worked to remove it, repair the damaged infrastructure, and take legal action against those involved. At the same time, the political echelon decided to impose fines on the Palestinian Authority totaling NIS 100 million for violations in the water sector.

Head of the Civil Administration, Brig. Gen. Hisham Ibrahim, also instructed that in areas where repeated water theft is detected, deliberate disconnections of the water supply will be carried out to the areas where the stolen water was routed. According to Civil Administration officials, the purpose of the move is to prevent further damage to infrastructure and ensure a proper, continuous water supply.