Violent Friday

Soldiers blocking off the
street below our house

Last night saw more stun grenades being fired in the Herod's Gate area. This afternoon after the Friday prayers, groups of youths started causing trouble in front of our school. Soldiers charged and fired stun grenades, tear gas and rubber bullets. Lasted for over an hour. The violence enveloped the whole Bab Hutta area and the periphery of St Anne's Church was surrounded by border police and soldiers. At 5pm the soldiers began to call off the attack after several arrests were made. I guess the Imam's fiery sermon had a part to play ... but I was told some guys are actually being paid by outside forces to cause trouble. Sad. Anyway violence also broke out at Damascus Gate.

All this will probably blow away tomorrow ... the tensions have waned and people just want to get on with their daily lives. We're sick of all this senseless violence that's doing no one any good.