Jericho

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Town in the Jordan valley, west of the River Jordan and north of the Dead Sea, 24 km/15 mi northeast of Jerusalem; population (1995 est) 25,000. The site of the old city is the centre of a fertile district where palms, rose trees, grapes, and balsams are grown. It was occupied by Israel from 1967–94 when responsibility for its administration was transferred to the Palestine National Authority, after the Israeli–Palestine Liberation Organization peace agreement in 1993. Jericho was settled by 8000 BC, and by 6000 BC had become a walled city with 2,000 inhabitants. It is claimed to be the site of the world's earliest known town, dating from around 9000 BC. Successive archaeological excavations since 1907 have shown 20 layers of settlement, and that the walls of the city were destroyed many times. In the Old Testament it was the first Canaanite stronghold captured by the Israelites, and its walls, according to the Book of Joshua, fell to the blast of Joshua's trumpets.

Red represents the blood shed during the fight for independence. According to legend Albanians are descended from the eagle, which is the national emblem. Effective date: 22 May 1993. >>