The Island of Peace is an Israeli-Jordanian park at the confluence of the Jordan River and Yarmouk River, on the border between Israel and Jordan.
In the Israel-Jordan Treaty of Peace 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 Rutenberg's Naharayim hydroelectric power station can be seen from here.
On March 13, 1997, the Feurst school from Beit Shemesh was on a class trip to the Jordan Valley, and Island of Peace. Jordanian soldier Ahmed Daqamseh opened fire at the schoolchildren, killing seven 11-year-old girls and badly wounding others. King Hussein of Jordan 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.[1]
In February 2011, Jordan's justice minister demanded the early release of Daqamseh, claiming that "He's a hero, he doesn’t deserve to be imprisoned".[2][3]