Israel prepares for 2,000th anniversary of Jesus' baptism in 2030

The Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced a dedicated working group to coordinate preparations for the 2,000th anniversary of Jesus' baptism, slated for 2030. The group is led by ambassador George Deek and overseen by Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar, aiming to welcome millions of Christian pilgrims at the historic Jordan River sites of Qasr el‑Yahud and Al‑Maghtas. The ministry described the event as “a milestone of profound spiritual importance for more than two billion Christians worldwide.” Israel sees the jubilee as an opportunity to strengthen ties with the global Christian community and ensure continued access to sacred sites. Jordan has launched parallel infrastructure upgrades on its side of the river, with King Abdullah II meeting church leaders to support the joint commemoration. Both governments are working to improve facilities and services for the expected influx of visitors.