3am Saturday

 Dome of the Rock at 3am, with crowds around

3am and the incessant, rhythmic chanting of the muslims at the Al Aqsa mosque opposite woke me up. Went up to the terrace to see what was happening. Thousands of muslim worshippers were praying from the mosque all through the esplanade to the Dome of the Rock sanctuary (the Golden Dome mosque that covers the rock where Abraham tried to sacrifice Isaac and where Muhammad ascended to heaven).

By 3.30am the crowds began to spill out to the streets, on the way home to eat their meal before the fast begins at 4.15am. From the terrace I can smell barbeque. Every kitchen is busy with activity. A woman pushing a wheelchair was hurrying home. Four Israeli soldiers weaved through the crowd in the street below, guns in hand. Youths smoke and laugh loudly. Shops selling food down the street are doing brisk business. It's the last Saturday before Eid il Fitr - the end of Ramadan. Just 2 more days.

The cannon will soon be fired and rock the entire City, signaling the beginning of the fast for today. Just for 2 more days.