Another violent day

Saturday's calm was broken by a stabbing at Musrara ... in front of the bakery where I bought bread half an hour earlier. It was shocking. I stayed in the office to work as I thought things would be very tense down in Musrara/Damascus gate area where I need to pass in order to get home.

Some colorful autumn fruit to lighten
the tension in our area.

At 4pm I thought it was late enough and walked down to Damascus Gate to get home, only to encounter another stabbing right at Damascus Gate. The police were vicious ... they kept us out of the way from the Gate ... but 500 meters. Jewish youths gathered and began lynching arabs who passed by. I had to spend several hours back in the office till late evening before we were allowed to re-enter the City.

Today 3 more attacks ... the last one just a couple of minutes ago while I'm writing. First was down in St. Stephen's Gate which is 500 meters from my house. Arab assailant shot dead. 2nd stabber was a woman up in Ammunition Hill near the Central Police Station in Sheikh Jarrah neighborhood. The 3rd is in Pisgat Zeev, a settlement north of Jerusalem. 

The El Al award

The tension in the country is thick. Now everyone is watching everyone else. Anyone who puts his/her hand in the pocket or handbag, everyone else moves quickly away. I don't know how else to ease the mind except watching the colorful fruit in our makeshift kitchen. The autumn colors are amazingly comforting.

And another comforting news: Duns Scotus Pilgrimage Ltd was awarded by  El Al for outstanding performance in 2014. Not bad for a small agency.