Good Shepherd Sunday

Tension in the southern part of the Old City - outside the walls - in the Silwan neighbourhood. Extremists rightwing Jewish group marched through the arab area to show who's boss and calling the govt. to remove all the arabs there. The arabs shouted back and threw stones. But no major incident.  http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/137186 
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1165188.html 

Today is Good Shepherd Sunday. Fr Pietro presided at the Mass and in his homily said that the Gospel reading not only calls shepherds to be good, but sheep to listen and follow. Interesting insight.

There's a tremendous surge of tourist groups today - the streets of the Old City were packed. Where do they all come from? The Ministry of Tourism yesterday vowed to change the deplorable treatment of foreigners at the airport. Hopefully entering and leaving Israel will be a pleasant experience. http://www.jpost.com/Israel/Article.aspx?id=173754 

The Druse today begin celebrating their feastday - they honour Jethro the father-in-law of Moses who is supposed to be buried in Kfar Hattim up on the mountain over the Sea of Galilee. http://www.jpost.com/Israel/Article.aspx?id=173840

On Wednesday 28th the Samaritans will celebrate their Passover. They still slaughter sheep in keeping with the Passover ritual. Jews no longer slaughter sheep on their Passover because there is no temple in Jerusalem to receive the sacrifice.