Peace Island is an
IsraelIsrael officially the State of Israel , is a developed state in Western Asia located on the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea. It borders Lebanon in the north, Syria in the northeast, Jordan in the east, and Egypt on the southwest, and contains geographically diverse features within its...
i-
JordanJordan , officially the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, is a country in Western Asia spanning the southern part of the Syrian Desert down to the Gulf of Aqaba. Jordan shares borders with Syria to the north, Iraq to the northeast, Saudi Arabia to the east and south, the Gulf of Aqaba to the southwest,...
ian park at the confluence of the
Jordan RiverThe Jordan River or River Jordan is a river in Southwest Asia which flows into the Dead Sea. It is considered to be one of the world's most sacred rivers...
and
Yarmouk RiverThe Yarmouk River is the largest tributary of the Jordan River. It drains much of the Hauran Plateau. It is one of three main Tributaries which enter the Jordan between the Sea of Galilee and the Dead Sea. To the south, are the Jabbok/Zarqa and the Arnon/Wadi Mujib) rivers...
, on the border between
IsraelIsrael officially the State of Israel , is a developed state in Western Asia located on the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea. It borders Lebanon in the north, Syria in the northeast, Jordan in the east, and Egypt on the southwest, and contains geographically diverse features within its...
and
JordanJordan , officially the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, is a country in Western Asia spanning the southern part of the Syrian Desert down to the Gulf of Aqaba. Jordan shares borders with Syria to the north, Iraq to the northeast, Saudi Arabia to the east and south, the Gulf of Aqaba to the southwest,...
.
In the
Israel-Jordan Treaty of PeaceThe Israel–Jordan Treaty of Peace is a peace treaty signed in 1994...
the two countries agreed to use this area as a tourist promotion for peace, while Israeli farmers continue to grow the fruit on the trees while paying Jordan for the land. A special tourist gate was established, and Israelis wishing to visit the island were permitted to enter Jordan for a short time, usually no more than an hour.
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Peace Island is an
IsraelIsrael officially the State of Israel , is a developed state in Western Asia located on the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea. It borders Lebanon in the north, Syria in the northeast, Jordan in the east, and Egypt on the southwest, and contains geographically diverse features within its...
i-
JordanJordan , officially the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, is a country in Western Asia spanning the southern part of the Syrian Desert down to the Gulf of Aqaba. Jordan shares borders with Syria to the north, Iraq to the northeast, Saudi Arabia to the east and south, the Gulf of Aqaba to the southwest,...
ian park at the confluence of the
Jordan RiverThe Jordan River or River Jordan is a river in Southwest Asia which flows into the Dead Sea. It is considered to be one of the world's most sacred rivers...
and
Yarmouk RiverThe Yarmouk River is the largest tributary of the Jordan River. It drains much of the Hauran Plateau. It is one of three main Tributaries which enter the Jordan between the Sea of Galilee and the Dead Sea. To the south, are the Jabbok/Zarqa and the Arnon/Wadi Mujib) rivers...
, on the border between
IsraelIsrael officially the State of Israel , is a developed state in Western Asia located on the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea. It borders Lebanon in the north, Syria in the northeast, Jordan in the east, and Egypt on the southwest, and contains geographically diverse features within its...
and
JordanJordan , officially the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, is a country in Western Asia spanning the southern part of the Syrian Desert down to the Gulf of Aqaba. Jordan shares borders with Syria to the north, Iraq to the northeast, Saudi Arabia to the east and south, the Gulf of Aqaba to the southwest,...
.
In the
Israel-Jordan Treaty of PeaceThe Israel–Jordan Treaty of Peace is a peace treaty signed in 1994...
the two countries agreed to use this area as a tourist promotion for peace, while Israeli farmers continue to grow the fruit on the trees while paying Jordan for the land. A special tourist gate was established, and Israelis wishing to visit the island were permitted to enter Jordan for a short time, usually no more than an hour.
Pinhas RutenbergPinhas Rutenberg was a prominent engineer and a businessman, a Russian socialist and a Zionist leader. He played an active role in two Russian revolutions, in 1905 and 1917. During World War I, he was among the founders of the Jewish Legion and of the American Jewish Congress...
's
NaharayimNaharayim was a hydroelectric power-plant located near the point where the Yarmuk River flows into the Jordan River. The plant was established by Pinchas Rutenberg in 1930, in what was then Transjordan, and produced much of the energy that was consumed in the British Mandate of Palestine until...
hydroelectric power station can be seen from here.
Peace Island massacre
On March 13, 1997, the Feurst school from Beit Shemesh was on a class trip to the
Jordan ValleyThe Jordan Rift Valley is an elongated depression located in modern-day Israel, Jordan, the West Bank and the Golan Heights...
, and visited Peace Island. Jordanian soldier Ahmed Daqamseh opened fire at the schoolchildren, killing seven 11-year-old girls and badly wounding others.
King HusseinHussein bin Talal was the King of Jordan from the abdication of his father, King Talal, in 1952, until his death...
of
JordanJordan , officially the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, is a country in Western Asia spanning the southern part of the Syrian Desert down to the Gulf of Aqaba. Jordan shares borders with Syria to the north, Iraq to the northeast, Saudi Arabia to the east and south, the Gulf of Aqaba to the southwest,...
came to Beit Shemesh to extend his condolences and ask forgiveness in the name of his country, a step which was seen as both touching and courageous. This unusual act was perceived by most of the Israeli public as a grand gesture, and enlivened hope that true peace may someday be achieved in the region.
Daqamseh was sentenced to life in prison for the massacre. He was reportedly mentally unstable.
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