Jesus’s baptism site along Jordan River is cleared of Israeli mines by Israel and the Halo Trust in cooperation with Jordan and Palestinian Authority.
The site has been made safe for pilgrims after an international effort to clear thousands of land mines laid by the Israeli military in the 1970s.
The “Land of the Monasteries” along the Jordan River was sown with the mines in the 1970s as the Israeli military fought Palestinian terrorist organisations infiltrating from Jordan. Seven monasteries, including one dedicated to John the Baptist, were closed.
Following a two-year, £5 million effort by the Israeli government and the British Hazardous Area Life- support Organisation charity, known as the Halo Trust, the area has been cleared.
This has ensured security to the 900,000 pilgrims who visit the area each year.
The de-mining began in March 2018 and it was completed on Thursday.
Israel, Jordan and the Palestinian Authority are now working to build an international pilgrimage and tourism centre accessible from both sides of the border.
Renovations to the churches that were abandoned for nearly 50 years are ongoing.
