Fights, protests, standoffs ... a nightly occurrence at Damascus Gate between arabs and israeli soldiers. After breaking the fast, crowds of youths gather to chant slogans and clap ... mostly in support of the bedouins who will be gathered into reserves and lose their freedom of movement. Soldiers will fire warning shots when the crowds get too heated. Unfortunate Jews who walk through Damascus Gate to and from the Wailing Wall are showered with insults and abuse. One was stabbed. A young boy had garbage thrown over him. It's bad ... because the ultra-orthodox Jews are seldom violent and all they want is to pray.
And the arabs fight among themselves as well. Just 2 evenings ago, two muslim families came to fist-fights because of the free food offered at the Al Aqsa mosque every evening. Since they couldn't fight inside the mosque, they came out to settle scores. Crowds gathered, everyone taking sides ... and a free-for-all rippled down our street. I was just coming home and stood nearby to watch. The guys from my neighbourhood were also around ... and when the fight got serious, they urged me to go home and lock the doors as I might get hurt. Smart advice.
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| The Ramadan cannon |
The cannon is fired at 3.50am to announce the start of the fast, and again at 7.55pm for its end. Gives a fright every morning. The windows shake when the cannon is fired ... about 230 meters away. It's placed at the top of the muslim cemetery facing Herod's Gate. A blank shell is fired, creating a very loud explosion.
For the rest of Israel, festivities continue to celebrate this hot summer. The Maccabiah Games are on. The Jerusalem Film Fest is coming up. Then there is the Book Fest and many others lined up. No cannons to announce these festivities.
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