Jesus’ baptism site to be cleared of land mines

Friday, May 20th, 2016

Land adjoining the site of Jesus’ baptism in the River Jordan is to be cleared of thousands of land mines.

A British trust is to work on clearing the mines at Qasr al-Yahud on the West Bank of the Jordan, with the co-operation of Israeli and Palestinian authorities and eight churches.

Work is expected to begin in 2017 and will take two years to complete.

It is hoped that the project will enable pilgrims to return to the site.

The area has significance for Jews as well as Christians: Joshua is believed to have crossed the River Jordan there on the final leg of the Israelite people’s exodus from Egypt.

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News category: News Shorts, World.

Tags: Baptism, Jesus, Land mines, Qasr al-Yahud

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