Israel starts clearing mines from Qasr al-Yahud baptism holy site

JERUSALEM, March 20 (Xinhua) -- Works to clear mines from Qasr al-Yahud - where Jesus was baptized, according to Christian tradition - have begun, Israel's Defense Ministry said in a statement on Tuesday.

The works are being carried out by the Israel National Mine Action Authority (INMAA) under the Ministry of Defense, together with HALO Trust, an international mine clearance charity.

The project aims at removing all mines and explosive remnants of war in Qasr al-Yahud, or "the Jews' Castle," a baptism site located in the Jordan River Valley in the Israeli-occupied West Bank.

The works commenced about two years after the project was first approved.

"This is a very exciting and long-awaited day indeed," Marcel Aviv, director of the National Mine Action Authority, said in the statement. "The demining of the Baptism Site, a place so significant to so many, is such a unique and wonderful opportunity."

"The cleaning and releasing of these lands, and the ability to return them to their religious guardians is a project we take great pride in," said Aviv.

The popular pilgrimage site is administrated by the Israeli Civil Administration.

Established in 2011, the National Mine Action Authority is in charge of clearing the mine-affected areas which Israel deemed as not essential for its security needs. According to the defense, since its establishment, the authority has cleared tens of thousands of mines scattered across thousands of acres of land throughout Israel. Enditem