Ammon News - AMMONNEWS - Israel is preparing to release a new coin featuring the hotly disputed Jordan River.

Although Israel's Maariv newspaper claimed that the image of the Jordan River was chosen out of respect for it being mentioned in the Torah many times as a place of miracles, the image looks set to anger many Palestinians.

The Jordan River is a natural border between Jordan and what is traditionally known as Palestine, and was accepted as an official border in 1967.

However, as it lies in the east of the West Bank, which the Palestinians hope to establish as an internationally recognized independent country free from the Israeli occupation, the symbolization of the river on Israeli currency may be interpreted as a demonstration of sovereignty over it.

Israel demands full control over the Jordan River as a condition in the ongoing peace talks with the Palestinians.

*World Bulletin