Independence Day round the corner

Sunset in Tel Aviv

Friday was unremarkable. Despite some military and mounted police presence, nothing happened. I guess the police wanted to take some precautions as next Tuesday marks Independence Day - 66 years of the founding of the modern State of Israel. What has been upsetting some people is the PM's determination to pass a bill in parliament declaring Israel to be a "Jewish State". That makes all non-jews unqualified to be Israeli citizens ... including thousands of arabs, druze, armenians and other minorities who have lived in this land for centuries. They lose citizen automatically unless they convert to judaism. Perhaps the sun has set for all of us foreigners and non-jews.

Last night I was woken up with alot of shouting in the streets and strong search lights flashing across my room from the window. It was midnight. I went out to the terrace to see what was happening and found soldiers in riot gear directly below searching but not moving in any direction. Arab youths from neighbouring houses were throwing stones and bottles at the soldiers. I was afraid if they soldiers shown their light up at me, they might mistake me for one of the arabs and shoot me. Also the arab youths in the neighbouring houses were yelling at me to stay indoors. The battle continued for an hour or so ... till more troops came into the street. Then things quietened down and life went back as normal. I'm sure everyone wants to live in peace. Enough of the fighting and warring. 66 years is enough. There has not been one day of peace.