Wet and tense Friday

Police blockade at the
3rd Station of the Cross

Today was proof that the Intifada is really underway. The whole Muslim Quarter has been closed off ... all roads leading to the City Gates in that Quarter were also closed. Only men over 50 yrs were allowed to enter the City. Very very tense. Young men gathered in the streets or blockades and prayed in the muddy streets as it was raining the whole day.

Scuffles took place in several street corners with the police. And there were very many soldiers and police. I guess the muslims knew they couldn't match the stun grenades and tear gas ... and with all the alleys and side-streets all blockaded since yesterday, there was no escape route ... so no rioting took place.

Police in the shade
away from the rain

Despite the tensions, stupid tourist guides continued to bring groups in the streets. Very dangerous. In fact one very very stubborn priest insisted on making the Way of the Cross, with giant cross (5 feet) held up, guitar strumming right through the street that was blocked by muslims kneeling in the mud praying because the police would not allow them to enter the Al Aqsa Mosque. The muslims would have beaten him and the guide up if not for others who came in between. That stupid stubborn priest should go to jail for putting the group's safety at risk. The group did not want to make the devotion, seeing how tense it was in the streets ... but the priest ... with his "priestly" authority and questionable spirituality, imposed it on the group and so the nasty confrontation. All I say is this type of priest should be banned from guiding groups, black-listed by agencies and denied a visa. They give priest-guides a bad name.

Damascus Gate market
inside the City is empty
because of the rain and curfew

Anyway things calmed down in the City and by evening the blockades were lifted. Not sure if the curfew has been lifted though. Last night the streets were eerily quiet and empty of people. It smelled like the intifada 14 yrs ago. Well if it's not here, then at least winter is. Nights drop to 12 degrees. The rain makes it colder than it is. My small radiator is out. Too cold to sleep without it. One good thing though about the cold and rain ... it deters people from going outdoors and rioting. Too much of a hassle in the slippery and muddy streets ... and too clumsy by wearing too much clothes. Perhaps we'll get a quiet night tonight.