Israel Vows to Clear 4,000 Landmines from Sacred Site of Jesus' Baptism on the Jordan River

Will Maule : Feb 20, 2018
Faithwire.com

HALO estimates that some 2,600 anti-tank and 1,200 anti-personnel mines are buried at the 1 square kilometer (0.4 square mile) site, along with treacherous booby traps and improvised explosive devices.

[Faithwire.com] An ancient Christian area widely thought to be the site of Jesus' baptism is to be cleared of some 4,000 landmines by Israeli military forces. Christians believe that Qasr al-Yahud, located about 10 kilometers east of Jericho, is the very spot on the Jordan River where Jesus was baptized. (Photo: Baptisms in the Jordan River/via BBC News)

The Baptism of Jesus is recorded in the Gospel of Matthew:

13 Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to John, to be baptized by him. 14 John would have prevented him, saying, "I need to be baptized by You, and do You come to me?" 15 But Jesus answered him, "Let it be so now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness." Then he consented. 16 And when Jesus was baptized, immediately Hewent up from the water, and behold, the heavens were opened to Him,[a] and You saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and coming to rest on Him;17 and behold, a voice from Heaven said, "This is My beloved Son,[b] with whom I am well pleased."

The trouble is, there are an estimated 4,000 landmines in the area where this historic event took place. The surrounding region is home to seven churches, along with chapels and monasteries, each belonging to various different Christian denominations. Qasr al-Yahud had been a popular pilgrimage location until 1968, when Israel blocked access and incorporated it in the closed military zone along the border with Jordan.

Due to its popularity as a tourist location for Christians, in 2011, COGAT-the Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories-and the National Parks Authority opened a small access road that leads to the baptismal site on the banks of the Jordan River.

Then, in 2016, the UK-based de-mining group HALO Trust, announced that it would begin the painstaking and dangerous process of clearing the landmines around Qasr al-Yahud. However, the actual work has yet to commence...

Click here to continue reading.