Israel May Open Site of Jesus’ Baptism

The Jordan River site where many believe Jesus was baptized may reopen to the public after being off-limits for more than 30 years.

An Israeli newspaper said Monday that Israel’s tourism minister hopes to reopen the site to visitors by 2000, when large numbers of Christians are expected to visit the Holy Land.

The biblical Gospel of Mark refers to Jesus being baptized by John the Baptist in the Jordan River. The spot along the west bank of the river where the baptism is believed to have occurred is part of a closed military zone opened to tourists for just three days a year.

Israel gained control of the site in the 1967 Six-Day War. The spot was previously controlled by Jordan. About 600,000 tourists visited the site annually until its closure.