Arthritic attack

Agapanthus in my garden

Just when we thought the weather was cooling off, it got flaming hot again today. The lovely flowers in bloom like the agapanthus in my garden belie the dreadful tension beneath the fabric of both arab and Israeli societies. The war in Gaza - I think that's the proper name now that there's so much dead - is not getting better and Israeli security is afraid arabs here in Jerusalem might start violence in support of Gaza. Lots of police in the streets fighting a propaganda war ... distributing leaflets and talking to arabs throughout the muslim quarter and East Jerusalem. This is serious stuff.

And the summer protesters in Tel Aviv are also facing very tough action from the police.  http://www.haaretz.com/news/national/israel-police-deploys-large-forces-in-central-tel-aviv-as-protesters-gather-for-mass-rally-1.443379    and another african migrant is attacked by locals   http://www.jpost.com/NationalNews/Article.aspx?id=274796

My poor arthritic fingers

On the personal front, my asthma is not getting better. And for the past 2 days my fingers on the left hand are all swollen from arthritis. They're painful and stiff. Moran (my physiotherapist) said he can do nothing except to massage it to soothe the pain. I had to go to Tel Aviv to see Moran because my neck problem was getting worse - the pain coupled with the asthma have made sleep practically impossible.

And Turkey and Syria appears to be heading for war because Syria shot down a turkish plane.

So much bad news ... maybe St. John the Baptist will come back to call for repentance and penance. It's his solemnity tomorrow.