Experts have now removed 1,500 devices since work got underway in the spring of this year to make land in the Qasr al-Yahud area safe enough that members of the public can visit from January 2020.
The operation is being financed through $2.6 million of funding from UK-based anti-mining charity the HALO Trust and $2 million from the Israeli government.
Chief executive, James Cowan was quoted by Reuters as saying: “This Christmas/holiday season, the Halo Trust has reached a pivotal point in our work to clear the Baptism Site of landmines and other remnants of war… which will ultimately benefit all humanity.”
A team of 22 landmine clearers from the country of Georgia have now cleared three or the seven church compounds in Qasr al-Yahud – which is located 10km east of Jericho.
A Greek Orthodox monastery, a Franciscan chapel and the Ethiopian Monastery of the Trinity have so far been cleared.
The Syrian Orthodox monastery, Russian chapel, Coptic monastery, and Roman monastery are yet to be cleared. Seven denominations have been involved in the operation.
The ongoing clearance, which took years to negotiate, was also delayed for two years by funding issues.
Qasr al-Yahud was popular among pilgrims until 1968 when Israel blocked off it and the area became part of an off-limits…
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