Israel Nature and Parks Authority on Friday announced that due to the rise in the level of the Jordan River and the formation of mud at its bottom, baptism ceremonies will not be possible at the baptism site.
The baptism site, a.k.a. Qasr el Yahud (Castle of the Jews in Arabic), is the official name of a baptism site in the Jordan River Valley in Samaria. The site and facilities are managed by the Israeli Civil Administration and the Israeli Ministry of Tourism as part of a beautiful national park.
Qasr el-Yahud is close to the ancient road and river ford connecting Jerusalem, via Jericho, to several biblical sites such as Madaba, Mount Nevo and the King’s Highway. It is located a little southeast of Jericho
The modern site reopened in 2011 after being closed since the 1967 Six-Day War. The restoration project was approved before the 2000 millennium celebrations but was delayed due to the Second Intifada and flooding in the region in 2003. In 2000, Pope John Paul II held a private worship at the site.
