Landmines haunting Christian site in occupied West Bank - in pictures

An Ethiopian Orthodox Christian woman sitting with a child by a fence with signs that warn of land mines at the baptismal site known as Qasr Al Yahud, near the West Bank city of Jericho in January 19, 2012.

Israel booby-trapped these buildings to prevent Palestinian and Jordanian fighters from using them for refuge during the 1967 Arab-Israeli war, said Ronen Shimoni, programme manager of Halo - a British firm which is planning to extract the mines.

Based on Israeli records, the Qasr Al Yahud area has 2,599 anti-tank mines, and an unknown number of smaller, anti-personnel mines spread across 870,736 square metres.

A Eritrean Christian worshipper is seen nearby the restricted Franciscan Church. Halo will be clearing the area of mines over the next 18 months.

A group of deaf Russian immigrants use sign language as they hold a ceremony and visit the Jordan River at the Qasr Al Yahud baptism site on the West Bank side of the river. Christian worshippers believe the site is where John the Baptist baptised Jesus is located. The Jordanian side of the river is seen in the background.

Israel booby-trapped buildings in the Qasr Al Yahud baptism site to prevent Palestinian and Jordanian fighters from using them for refuge during the 1967 Arab-Israeli War. Now, 50 years after the war, a demining operation is under way. All photos by Heidi Levine