Weekend

Friday passed without incident despite it being the Muslim New Year. The security measures were draconian ... multiple checkpoints every 10 - 15 metres. All arabs below 50 yrs were forbidden to enter the Old City. But there were fierce clashes in Bethlehem and Ramallah and other parts of the Palestinian Territories. Several people died.

Wonton noodle soup
at Mandarin restaurant

Today all the metal barriers were removed around the Old City. Inside the Old City, metal barriers were stacked on the side. Jerusalem was calm but there were attacks in Hebron and now even in Bat Yam just south of Jaffa.

What I was particularly shocked and angered was witnessing the strip-search of 2 arab young men in the middle of the cross roads of Jaffa Street and New Gate where the tram passes. In front of tourists and locals, they were forced to strip down to their underwear by Israeli soldiers. Utter humiliation ... there is a garden beside the crossroads, the soldiers could have asked them to move into that corner ... but instead they were humiliated in public. Any wonder why even the pacifists feel anger and hatred now? More enemies are made now than during the war.

I was suffering from severe and chronic diarrhoea and nausea for the past 2 days. I ate nothing but one banana and that made me very sick. When I felt better I went to Mandarin's to eat a bowl of wonton noodle soup. It felt good in a very sore tummy.