STOP the persecution

Witnesssed an awful experience of an arab guy being arrested by Israeli soldiers at the Musrara junction this morning. He probably didn't have his documents ... but there were about 10 soldiers all armed. He was only about 19 or 20 yrs old. I could see the fear in his eyes as he remained silent while soldiers were shouting at him. He was handcuffed and shoved into the military jeep. The soldier sitting next to him pushed his head down between his knees while the jeep sped off. I could just see his eyes as he made a quick glance to the left at me. I felt so helpless. And that's the awful part ... there was nothing I could do ... or at least I thought so. The guy is like so many of the guys I know ... struggling to get a few hours temp. job to bring back some money for the family. Why all this treatment? And the thing that hit me was only this morning the Israeli Court is going to establish a law to imprison people who mistreat animals. And here we have a human being trying to feed his family being arrested because he's arab and stood on the wrong side of the wall.

Christians huddle at church door as son is kidnapped and
forced to be muslim

And more upsetting is the news that Christians in Gaza continue to be persecuted by muslims - executions or forced conversion to Islam. http://www.haaretz.com/news/middle-east/gaza-christians-protest-forcible-conversions-1.451544#  Isn't the world bothered? Aren't you?

The summer of discontent continues. Ironically this time it's the relaxation of security on the Israeli side of Jerusalem. Well for most of us, it's a relief that there'll be no more obligatory security checks at the Central Bus Station - it causes long queues and slows the traffic. But now security is practicing profiling; meaning arabs and all people falling into their profile will be security checked only. Israelis are not happy because it would mean more risks. A terrorist disguised as an orthodox jew could therefore easily carry an explosive and walk right into the Bus Station.  http://www.jpost.com/NationalNews/Article.aspx?id=277621  So Israeli society is divided on this issue.

And the social protest movement gets violent. The National Insurance agency's entrance was partially burnt with graffitti sprayed over it. http://www.haaretz.com/news/national/israeli-government-office-burned-vandalized-in-solidarity-with-self-immolating-protester-1.451429

Hilary Clinton is in town. That means traffic jams everywhere. Hate it. Hasn't she heard of iPhone and Skype?

Grass at Damascus Gate's Palm Square
gets a watering from the heat.

And the heat .... utterly unbearable! In all, 6 baby canaries have died in 3 days. 1 survived only because it hatched 10 days ago and is therefore stronger in resisting the heat. But after this morning's experience, even the heat is nothing to the awful treatment of the arab guy or to Christians in Gaza.