Polluted water

Some of our museum
artefacts at the exhibition

The City flew into a panic as the Municipality announced at 1pm that all water from taps are polluted by sewerage and no one should use the water. Boiling the water for 2 mins is required if anyone wishes to take the risk. Suddenly bottled water from all shops and supermarkets were snapped up. Prices shot up ... a normal 2 shekel litre of mineral water rose to 6 shekels. People were running around the City buying up cartons of it. I managed to buy 2 bottles late at night after work and it costs me that much money. But at least I got to wash my face and brush my teeth in the morning. Later this afternoon we received news that the problem was solved. But we have first to empty all our water tanks, clean our water pipes and taps before storing new clean water in it.

The past 2 days was as usual full of work. Was extremely exhausted. But last night was the inauguration of a new exhibition at the Citadel of David museum which I was invited. It presented the history of medicine and healthcare in Jerusalem for the past 3000 years. Some of our museum and library artefacts were lent for this exhibition. It was quite crowded with dignitaries, the mayor, religious heads, archaeologists and of course big-time benefactors. It was an interesting display and certainly informative and educational. What an apt exhibition when our tap water became a health hazard.

Reception at the exhibition
inauguration

On the down side of news, attacks on christians have been on the rise this week. The catholic bishop of Nazareth received a letter warning catholics will be attacked if they do not leave Israel. Church property have been vandalised. And perpetrators have never been arrested. Finally this morning the US govt. protested that Israel is not doing enough to stop anti-christian attacks. The police chief replied that the police force will step up its action. But everyone, including Israeli newspapers, railed at the hypocrisy of the police force ... if it were an arab attack on an israeli institution, an arrest would have been made within hours. But for israeli attacks on arabs and non-jewish institutions, nothing has been done even after 2 years. Somehow surveillance cameras, witnesses and intelligence gathering always fail when non-jews are attacked. The pollution of our tap water is less threatening than the pollution of justice.