News

EASTER HOLIDAY AT THE BAPTISM SITE

Like every year, the Coordination and Liaison Administration in Jericho got prepared for the ceremonies of the Easter holiday at the Baptism Site. The ceremonies took place on last Tuesday and Wednesday, and the congregations that performed their ceremonies at the baptism site were the Greek-Orthodox., the Syriac-Christians and the Coptic.

 
Towards the Easter holiday, the preparations for the ceremonies at the site are relatively limited compared to the preparations for the ceremonies of the Christmas holiday, since there are only a few congregations that ask to perform their holiday ceremonies at the site.  Approximately 5000 visitors are expected to arrive at the site during the Easter holiday, compared with estimated arrival figures of more than 10,000 visitors during the Christmas holiday.  Despite this, the staff at the Jericho DCL optimally prepared themselves for the ceremonies.

In preparation for the tourists and prayers that arrived at the site, the Civil Administration has placed there additional toilets for the convenience of the visitors and clothing chambers, as well as additional sheds for heat relief, and representatives from the DCL were present there in order to extend their assistance to any person that needs it.  Also, the DCL made the pertinent arrangements with the pertinent bodies and entities:  The regional brigade, the Border Police, the Police and the Nature and Parks Authority, which is in charge of the current operation of the site. 

"We are facing an important task with the purpose of enabling all the Christian communities, from all corners of the world, to adequately arrive at the site and according to the rules", said the deputy head of the Coordination and Liaison Administration of Jericho, Major Bassem Haino.  "For our satisfaction, everything is being conducted in the best possible manner while abiding by the protocol". 
These days, renovation and development works are being carried out at the site, aiming at improving visitor convenience at the baptism site: Paving and tiling works, erection of shadow sheds, removal of mine fields and renovation of the entrance and the access road to the site, with the purpose of providing a pleasant and convenient place for visitors.  "The State of Israel is investing Millions of NIS in the renovation works of this site", explained Major Haino.

We made satisfactory and good preparations for the ceremonies, so as to enable them to be performed as smoothly as possible", concludes the head of the Jericho Coordination and Liaison Administration, Lieutenant-Colonel Raym Falah. "Our goal is to enable the freedom of religion of the different communities to be exercised as best as possible".