Trouble is brewing in the Holy Sepulchre because the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate's bank account is frozen. The water company is demanding 9 million shekels of past water bills. However the Church has never paid water or electric bills because it's been exempt all these centuries. If any payment is made now, it'll start a precedent for other companies to demand retrospective payments for electricity, land tax etc... for all church properties including pilgrim hostels, schools, churches, hospitals, orphanages. It's not right as mosques and synagogues are exempt. http://www.jpost.com/NationalNews/Article.aspx?id=290257 and http://www.haaretz.com/news/national/holy-sepulchre-bank-account-blocked-over-water-bill-1.474045#.UJSMko0k6W8.facebook In a united move, all the churches are in agreement to close the Holy Sepulchre as a protest. So you see, water is not only a contention between desert-dry countries in the Middle-east ... it's moved into the churches as well.
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| "Thirst" - statue at Mamilla Mall |
So next time you thoughtlessly misuse water, stop yourself. Don't take it for granted. Every drop counts.
Weatherwise there's no sign of rain though it's terribly cloudy. Let's hope this winter will be kind and allow some heavy rains to fall later in the year. A couple of stormy days would be great.
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