Violent Friday

Confrontation as Musrara is
blockaded and arabs cannot
go near the Old City 

It was a Day of Rage not unlike the Intifada days. After midnight the police and soldiers came to lock down the Muslim Quarter. It was drastic. Blockades surrounded the Quarter in concentric circles and entry was only permitted to arab men over 40 years and hold an identity card.

Blockades began as far up as Palm Plaza outside Damascus Gate, and further up north in the Musrara open market. The 2nd ring was at the top of the Damascus Gate cavea. Once inside the Old City, all the alleys have been blocked off, plenty of soldiers at the Austrian Hospice and all the way down to the Wailing Wall, or eastwards down Via Dolorosa to Lions' Gate.

Palm Plaza is blocked off as well

I was on my way home from work at 1.30pm and had to pass through Damascus Gate. Foreigners are allowed free access. But I stopped by Musrara to witness the protest which ended up in a violent scuffle; tear gas and stun grenades were fired to disperse the crowd. Entering the Old City down El Wad street (the ancient Tyropoean Valley) I could not go any further against the wave of arab muslims leaving the Al Aqsa mosque and going out through Damascus Gate. I stood at the doorway of a small mosque and took photos as the tiny street was packed with chanting angry crowds while soldiers tried to scatter them into smaller groups. Tensions flared and scuffles resulted.

Outside of Jerusalem we hear news of riots as well. 4 policemen were hurt as arabs threw Molotov cocktails and even fired guns near the entry to Bethlehem. The situation has worsen and it would not seem to get any better for Yom Kippur which clashes with Eid el Adha next Tuesday. And then there's Sukkoth on Sept. 23rd.