Illegal Water Theft and Vandalism at Northern Israel’s Maayan HaAchim Memorial Sparks Urgent Enforcement Call

An urgent appeal from the Regavim movement has exposed illegal water extraction and vandalism at Maayan HaAchim (Netofa Spring) in northern Israel’s Galilee region. The spring, dedicated in summer 2023 to three pairs of brothers killed in terror attacks, is located south of Hararit within the Misgav Regional Council jurisdiction. Regavim’s letter, sent to multiple enforcement authorities including the Northern District Police Commander, Water Authority Director, Green Patrol Manager, and Misgav Council head, demands immediate action against unauthorized construction and water theft in the area.

The appeal reveals that water from the spring, a popular site for hikers, is being siphoned illegally through pipes directly connected to the spring. The stolen water is used for an unauthorized residential building, agricultural purposes, and a private pool nearby. Alongside the water theft, the memorial site has been desecrated, with the commemorative plaque forcibly removed. Regavim describes this as a severe moral and ethical violation, harming public tourism and disrespecting the memory of terror victims.

Neriya Shapira, Regavim’s Northern District manager, condemned the acts as "double audacity," combining theft of national natural resources on state land with deliberate erasure of Jewish memory in the region. He called on enforcement bodies to immediately demolish illegal structures, impose fines, open criminal investigations, and restore the site.

The Misgav Regional Council responded that while it shares the pain over the vandalism, water theft enforcement falls under the Water Authority and Green Patrol. Regarding illegal buildings and agricultural work, the council has initiated legal proceedings, imposed fines, and issued demolition orders, which are pending enforcement pending appointment of a local prosecutor.