The Jordanians succeeded in persuading the Pope to visit the new baptism site [where Jesus was supposedly baptized] in Bethany in Jordan on March 21. The Jordanians claim that John the Baptist had been baptizing the believers in this place. In addition to that the Jordanian Minister of Tourism said that Christ was not baptized in the river itself but in a basin. On the other hand the [Israeli] Yehia Aharot newspaper said that the Jordanian Minister of Tourism is ignoring two verses in the New Testament which says Jesus Christ was baptized in the Jordan river and thus these verses contradict the Jordanian tale.