Another new protest movement - this time by thousands of ultra-orthodox Jews in Jerusalem against the proposed law to draft their young adults into the army. Many wore sackcloth and smeared ash on their heads - true to biblical tradition. It's a compulsory draft in Israel but the ultra-orthodox managed to evade that for 60 years. Now they can't escape and they're fighting to have the law stopped. Of course they'll win - the rabbis will threaten to excommunicate the ministers and military and send them all to hell if the law goes through ... believe me, eternal damnation is more powerful than any war on earth.
http://www.jpost.com/NationalNews/Article.aspx?id=275104
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Jerusalem Light Rail
The only thing that's running smoothly
in the City ... until protesters block it |
Meanwhile the social protest movement that ended in violence and lots of arrests in Tel Aviv, made a debut here in Jerusalem. Protesters marched to the PM's house but got arrested because the march was not legally approved.
http://www.jpost.com/NationalNews/Article.aspx?ID=275081&R=R1
I have never been more keenly aware of local Israelis who today, before they introduce themselves, make friends or chat .... ask themselves the question "Is he/she left or right? secular or orthodox?" Everyone seems to be aligning themselves on one side or the other. Battle lines seem to be drawn across the social network of Jews. It's a psychological war, a mind game .... and it can get so very tiring. I just wish all these people would just chill out, go tot the beach and enjoy the sun and sea ... allow nature to teach them what is harmony. But of course in Israel, going to the beach is another point of contention: should men be separated from women? Are bikinis allowed? Is the sunblock kosher?
It may be a new week but lots of old problems are carried forward.
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