QASR AL-YAHUD, Palestinian Territories — Efforts to clear thousands of landmines and other ordnance around the site where many believe Jesus was baptised have reached a milestone and officials allowed a rare glimpse Sunday of abandoned churches there. It is expected to cost 20 million shekels ($5.3 million, 4.7 million euros). Mines and other ordnance have been cleared from Ethiopian and Greek Orthodox monastery sites as well as a Franciscan chapel, organizers said. “The Halo Trust has reached a pivotal point in our work to clear the baptism site of landmines and other remnants of war,” the charity’s CEO James Cowan said in a statement. Israel’s control of the West Bank has never been recognized by the international community, which considers the land occupied Palestinian territory.

Source: Philippine Daily Inquirer December 09, 2018 22:41 UTC