Solomon Pools Reopen for Organized Tourist Groups in Gush Etzion Following Government Investment
The Solomon Pools, an ancient water system from the Second Temple period located near the city of Efrat in the Gush Etzion region, have reopened to organized tourist groups as part of a pilot program. This initiative follows a government decision to invest 10 million shekels to permanently improve access to the site. Previously, visiting the pools required complex coordination, but now specific dates are published weekly for groups to enter via advance registration through tour operators, educational institutions, and guides. The ultimate goal is to open the site daily and freely to the public.
Dovbi Shapira, head of the Efrat local council, emphasized that while cooperation with the military had allowed some group visits over the past two years, this new arrangement aims to unlock the site's full tourism potential. Tourism advisor Hezki Bezalel noted that the first pilot tour included groups from religious seminaries and American tourists. Veteran English-speaking guide Iva Haro highlighted the site's immense historical and tourism value, lamenting that the pools were mistakenly designated under Palestinian Authority control due to Oslo Accords, despite their proximity to Efrat.
Haro expressed optimism that regular opening of the site would attract hundreds of thousands of visitors annually, strengthening the connection between the Jewish people and Judea and Samaria. She praised the collaboration between the local council and the military as a historic step to boost tourism. The government’s recent allocation of over 100 million shekels for tourism infrastructure in Judea and Samaria was also welcomed as a significant development.
The largest pilot group was organized by the Har Gofna seminary and led by Dr. Azriel Yehezkel, who researched the ancient water system in his doctoral studies. Shaul Ariel, the seminary’s tour coordinator, described the strong interest and rapid registration for the tour as a sign of renewed enthusiasm. He noted that sites like Solomon Pools and Sebastia had been difficult to access since the Oslo Accords, but now a new generation of researchers and guides is revitalizing tourism and scholarship in the area. The seminary is already planning additional visits due to positive feedback from participants.
