Riots (updated)

At 5pm several of us went out to the terrace to see what was happening below and around Lions' Gate (St. Stephan's Gate). The street was pretty empty; the shops had all closed and only locals were hurrying to get back home. We could see plumes of smoke from the Ras Al Amud district south from where we are. The rioting in the Dome of the Rock mosque was calmed and solders have left the place. Some local arabs in the street below signaled to me that the death toll is now three - but there is no way to confirm this. An Israeli was stabbed on Mt. Scopus. We think tomorrow and Friday things will get pretty tense. Perhaps they will close the gates of the Old City.  
http://www.haaretz.com/news/diplomacy-defense/israel-police-leave-temple-mount-as-calm-returns-to-jerusalem-1.315217
http://www.jpost.com/Israel/Article.aspx?id=188921
http://edition.cnn.com/2010/WORLD/meast/09/22/israel.shooting/index.html 
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-11391719


Helicopters still flying overhead. At 11.30am the shop-keepers outside our place warned me that Friday there will be trouble in the streets so I should stay indoors. At 2.30pm they sent word to me that there was problem now as police have entered the Dome of the Rock compound and I should stay indoors for a couple of hours as it could get bad in the streets. I happened to be on the street at that time and saw a mufti being ushered hurriedly out of one of the mosque's side exits. Soldiers had blocked off the lower portion of our street towards St Anne's Church. Shops along the street were closing quickly. The tension is high in our quarter.

Helicopters flying overhead right now. Just received news that there are clashes now in the Silwan (Siloam) area - one dead. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-11387964 and http://www.jpost.com/Israel/Article.aspx?id=188921 and  http://www.haaretz.com/news/national/palestinian-killed-by-israeli-guard-in-east-jerusalem-1.315144

Looks like this year's Sukkot will end up like last year's - violence and rioting in the streets. Let's pray not.