Of incense and spices

All types of incense for sale

Today for a change the headlines was not on Israel. It was on the series of bomb attacks in Turkey, Cairo and Kabul ... and the ISIS plot to murder the Queen of England this Saturday. The regional upheaval in apparently calculated and co-ordinated attacks serve to destabilise the countries ... causing fear and suspicion. Nothing has occurred in Israel though ... they know the Israeli military is powerful and has a zero tolerance. In fact everyone is sure the Israeli army is the only regional force capable to neutralising these anarchic forces.

But the regional problems have an indirect effect on Israel - tourism. Tourists have dropped almost by a third because of fears. Local are feeling the pinch. Israelis are quick to adapt and organise tours for local Israelis ... which is working well. Palestine however is less organised and can only moan at the lost  of revenue.

Fragrant spices in the Suq

On the bright side, the roads are less crowded and I could take a walk down the old spice market "Suq" which dates back to the Crusader period, almost 1000 years ago. It's amazing to see the brilliant array of incense for sale, and the fragrances of exotic spices. This never fails to captivate me. It's almost spellbinding. I think of the times of the great golden era of islam ... of literature, maths, science and astronomy; the 1001 nights, Ali Baba and the 40 thieves, Aladdin and the magic lamp, flying carpets and genies .... everything that modern fanatic islam is trying to destroy. Yes ISIS has destroyed more mosques than churches, persecuted more muslims than christians.