BETHLEHEM, West Bank / PNN /

Hundreds of volunteers, officials and community representatives gathered at Solomon’s Pools south of Bethlehem on Saturday for a large-scale cleanup campaign aimed at preserving one of the area’s most prominent historical landmarks while sending what organizers described as a message of Palestinian attachment to the land amid ongoing Israeli settlement expansion.

The initiative was organized by the Fatah Youth Movement in Bethlehem in cooperation with the Palestinian Civil Defense and local municipalities.

Throughout the day, volunteers cleared litter from around the historic pools, cleaned centuries-old water channels clogged with dirt and debris, and transported waste to disposal sites with support from municipal authorities.

Deputy Bethlehem Governor Daoud Al-Hamri said the event carried both popular and official significance, describing it as a demonstration of Palestinians’ commitment to their land and national heritage despite difficult political and economic conditions.

“This activity sends a public message that our people remain attached to their land and homeland,” Al-Hamri said. “At a time when Bethlehem is facing increasing settlement pressures, unity and collective action are essential.”

Al-Hamri referred to recent Israeli measures affecting land in the Bethlehem area, including announcements concerning land near Al-Fureidis and the former military site of Ush Ghrab east of Beit Sahour. He said the developments reflect what local officials view as growing pressure on the governorate.

“Today’s event is a message that this is our land and that we will remain steadfast on it,” he added.

Yousef Al-Shayeb, secretary of the Fatah Youth Movement in Palestine and a member of Fatah’s Revolutionary Council, said the campaign formed part of broader youth activities aimed at affirming the Palestinian identity of Solomon’s Pools and rejecting Israeli settlement policies in the area.

Former Fatah Revolutionary Council member and journalist Mohammad Abdel Nabi Al-Lahham said Bethlehem Governorate is witnessing settlement expansion in several areas, arguing that the situation requires stronger public engagement.

“There is a need to strengthen popular action and not remain silent in the face of settlement expansion,” Al-Lahham said.

He also called on the Palestinian government to invest more heavily in Solomon’s Pools and surrounding areas, proposing the site be developed into a Palestinian national park and tourism destination.

Ahmed Al-Amour, secretary of the Fatah Youth Movement in Bethlehem, said the campaign was organized in partnership with the Palestinian Civil Defense, municipalities and local institutions.

He said the event was attended by senior Fatah officials, municipal leaders, representatives of government departments, religious authorities, civil society organizations and media outlets.

“The objective is to emphasize that this area is an integral part of Palestinian heritage and identity,” Al-Amour said.

He added that the cleanup campaign is expected to be followed by additional summer activities designed to increase public engagement at the site and encourage greater government support for its preservation.

Participants said the initiative carried both environmental and national messages, emphasizing the importance of protecting cultural heritage while maintaining a Palestinian presence at historical sites.

Anton Salman, a member of Fatah’s Revolutionary Council, described the campaign as a first step toward broader popular and official efforts to safeguard the area.

“Solomon’s Pools are not only a historical and tourist landmark but also an important water resource,” Salman said. “There is a need for practical development projects that help people remain on their land and strengthen their resilience.”

Bethlehem Mayor Hanna Hanania said municipal officials and employees joined the campaign to demonstrate solidarity and reaffirm their commitment to preserving the site.

“Solomon’s Pools represent a historical and cultural legacy passed down through generations,” Hanania said. “We are here today to reaffirm our attachment to this heritage.”

Hanania also urged the international community to pay closer attention to settlement activity and its impact on Palestinian land and heritage.

Hassan Faraj, another member of Fatah’s Revolutionary Council, said the Palestinian leadership considers Solomon’s Pools and other areas facing similar pressures to be of strategic importance.

“The message is clear: the Palestinian people will remain on their land and will not leave,” he said.

Local officials and observers said the campaign highlighted the intersection between heritage preservation, community resilience and local economic development.

Samir Hazboun, chairman of the Bethlehem Chamber of Commerce and Industry, said the event underscored the importance of protecting Solomon’s Pools through continued cultural, economic and tourism activities.

Hazboun announced that an economic exhibition organized by the Food Industries Association, in cooperation with the Bethlehem Chamber of Commerce, is scheduled to take place at Solomon’s Pools Palace from June 10 to June 18.

More than 70 companies and businesses are expected to participate, he said, adding that the event aims to strengthen Palestinian economic activity and public presence at the site.

Jamil Rabaya, head of the Artas Village Council, praised the volunteers and institutions involved in the campaign and called for greater government engagement in the area.

He urged Prime Minister Mohammad Mustafa’s government to hold a future Cabinet meeting in Bethlehem to support development initiatives and reinforce Palestinian presence around Solomon’s Pools.

The cleanup campaign concluded with volunteers collecting large amounts of waste and reopening several historic water channels blocked by dirt and debris, while participants reiterated calls for preserving the site as a symbol of Palestinian cultural and historical heritage.