Friday of tensions

Tensions rose today in the Old City. Police and military presence was on high alert ... every street corner is a regiment of police, soldiers and border police in riot gear, M16s loaded and stun grenades strapped to the shoulders. Muslims going into the Dome of the Rock mosque for Friday prayers jostled amidst the tight security. A security helicopter flew very low overhead.

Spanish tourists oblivious
to the explosion of stun
grenades fired 50 meters
away

Then after the noon day prayers, the violence began. The air rocked as volleys of stun grenades were fired in the mosque esplanade ... well over 30 in 2 minutes. The firing continued sporadically for another 20 minutes. Hundreds of muslims threw stones at Israeli soldiers and Jewish worshippers who had entered the mosque precincts ... to try and tear down the mosque and rebuild the Jewish Temple (which they try to do every year during Sukkot). Soldiers fired stun grenades in return. Attackers surged and retreated several times. Old people were trying to get out of the esplanade as quickly as possible ... the crush was terrifying. Everyone tried to get out of the Old City as soon as they could - through Lions Gate, Herod's Gate and Damascus Gate. Literally thousands jammed the city gates. Youths were running and dodging ... presumably they played a role in the stone throwing and were now trying to get away as soldiers moved in.  http://www.jpost.com/NationalNews/Article.aspx?id=286771

Tourists taking photos of the
shootings from inside the Antonia
overlooking the Temple Mount

As tensions rose, tourists continued to walk the streets in total bliss and ignorance, oblivious to the chaos around them. Taking photos, chatting, eating, drinking like nothing was happening. If the shootings reached the streets, these tourists would pay dearly for their ignorance. And their guides are totally responsible for bringing them to danger.

Now things seem to be back to normal. The streets are still quiet though. But we all know it's just the surface. Scratch it and you'll see a seething cauldron of anger and hatred beneath waiting for the next opportunity to boil over.