Posted on 09/02/2011 12:59:00 AM PDT by Eleutheria5
A Jordan-based group is threatening to file a lawsuit against Israel in the International Criminal Court over its opening of the baptismal site Qasr al-Yahud near the Jordan River.
The group, which calls itself “The Arab Union to Resist the Expulsion of Arab Christians”, is headed by the speaker of the Jordanian senate, Taher al-Masri, and includes Muslim and Christian officials from around the Arab world.
The group is upset over the fact that on July 12, Israel held an official ceremony to mark the opening of Qasr al-Yahud, the site which is known as the place where Jesus was baptized by John the Baptist and which is considered the third holiest site in Christianity.
A report last year by Israel’s Ministry of Health said that there is a higher than permitted level of harmful bacteria at the site, caused by a drought as well as from raw sewage which fills the river and when the waters pass PA-controlled Jericho. The Health and Tourism Ministries began working together, along with the Nature and Parks Authority, in order to examine the makeup of the water and find ways to improve its quality.
The group threatening the lawsuit seems to be following up on measures already taken against Israel by the Jordanian government on this issue.
...Vatican recognizes this fact, emphasizing that Pope John Paul II took part in the opening ceremony of the Jordanian side of the site in 2000.
Jordan accused Israel of trying to distort history and trying to attract Christian tourism to its side of the Jordan River. Jordan’s anger, however, is likely due to the fact that it is trying to compete with Israel over Christian tourists and is concerned that Israel’s opening of the site, which attracts over 100,000 tourists each year, will hurt Jordanian tourism.
(Excerpt) Read more at israelnationalnews.com ...
Arab Christians should take a chill pill. 20 or so centuries of Christian theological debate over the actual location of Jesus’ baptism will not be suddenly skewed by what a Jewish state does. As for the pollution, heck why not chlorinate the area?
The group, which calls itself "The Arab Union to Resist the Expulsion of Arab Christians" ...includes Muslim and Christian officials... is upset over the fact that on July 12, Israel held an official ceremony to mark the opening of Qasr al-Yahud, the site which is known as the place where Jesus was baptized by John the Baptist and which is considered the third holiest site in Christianity. A report last year by Israel's Ministry of Health said that there is a higher than permitted level of harmful bacteria at the site... from raw sewage which fills the river and when the waters pass PA-controlled Jericho. The Health and Tourism Ministries began working together, along with the Nature and Parks Authority, in order to examine the makeup of the water and find ways to improve its quality.
That's not to say don't go. I would recommend everyone go to Israel, it's a great country with great people.
Total immersion types (Baptists) would assume the location must be in parts of the Jordon where full immersion is easily done. However, the very earliest Christian art of baptism shows John and Jesus in ankle deep water.
How (and therefore where?) was it originally done? Jesus knows...
If you’d like to be on or off, please FR mail me.
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And that, of course, is the hidden issue.
The moslems think so much of Christians, they literally defecate on them.
Hmm, I went via the Jordanian side two years ago. We were able to dip our feet in the Jordan river, which is about 20’ wide at that point. There are foundations of medieval churches on both sides. Only one foundation goes into the water and it surrounds a spring-fed pool. It’s on the Israeli side and they built a large viewing area above it. If the Israelis allow you to go down to the water then it’d be better since we could go right up to the water on the Jordanians’ side.
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