September begins

Eid il Fitr passed without any major incidents. Thank God. Damascus Gate was eerily silent last night - not a shop was opened in the Old City Muslim Quarter. No vendors in sight.

Today school officially begins in Israel but there is a call for a student's boycott of school in support of the social protest enveloping the country.  http://www.haaretz.com/print-edition/news/facebook-group-calls-on-israel-students-to-ditch-school-for-social-protests-1.381835

And the medical strike - though officially ended - has made a turn for the worse. We're expecting mass resignations and a hospital crisis is looming. No hope for my operation, I guess.  http://www.haaretz.com/print-edition/news/israel-hospitals-implementing-emergency-plan-as-mass-resignation-looms-1.381825

And a creeping xenophobia is taking over the country - a record 2000 illegal immigrants crossed into Israel last month. http://www.haaretz.com/print-edition/news/all-time-high-of-2-000-illegal-infiltrators-crossed-israel-egypt-border-last-month-1.381829  We can expect a round-up of illegals soon. And those who find some way of remaining will face separation from the local community. http://www.haaretz.com/print-edition/news/tel-aviv-sending-israeli-foreign-children-to-separate-schools-1.381831

But what is keeping everyone on their toes is the govt. warning that a terrorist attack is expected in the next few days. http://www.haaretz.com/news/diplomacy-defense/home-front-minister-sinai-based-cell-may-try-to-attack-israel-in-coming-days-1.381510  and  http://www.haaretz.com/print-edition/news/idf-boosts-presence-in-south-based-on-terror-1.381512

All these fears accumulating as September begins. The weather is very autumn-like : cool mornings and cloudy days. At least the weather is kind to us.