Charity mission to rid holy site of landmines

A BRITISH landmine charity has begun clearing thousands of explosives from the supposed site of Jesus’s baptism in the River Jordan.

The site in the occupied West Bank, where John the Baptist is believed to have immersed Jesus into the water, is the third holiest spot in Christianity after his birthplace in Bethlehem and the site of his crucifixion in Jerusalem. But for more than 50 years, pilgrims’ access to the site and seven desert churches nearby have been severely limited by a lethal array of landmines and booby traps laid by Israeli forces after the 1967 war to stop Palestinian insurgents from using the site to launch raids.

This week, experts from the Halo Trust, a UK charity committed to demining, of which Prince Harry is a patron, started work to clear the explosives and make the site safe for Christian visitors once more.

Jewish, Muslim and Christian staff are involved in the project and James Cowan, the chief executive at Halo, said he was heartened by the interfaith co-operation ahead of Easter.

The Israeli government has provided half of the $1.15 million (£814,000) cost, with the rest of the funding coming from Christian churches and private donors.