Kubbeh

It's Thursday. Tensions are rising. In Hebron an arab youth sneaked into a jewish settlement and killed a 13 yr old girl and another man. Later in Netanya (where I have to celebrate Mass occasionally) another arab sneaked into the City and stabbed 2 people, injuring them. And all this in the light of the riots of the past 2 days.

And of course we're still reeling form the Istanbul bombing. What is upsetting me is when Paris and Brussels were bombed, there were immediate "Je Suis Paris/Bruzelles" tweets and FB uploads within seconds. NOT A SINGLE "JE SUIS ISTANBUL" yet ......... now you tell me why.

Kubbeh, labaneh and rice

Tomorrow is the last Friday of Ramadan. It's also the muslim feast of Laylat el Kader ... the night when heaven opens and God forgives the sins of muslims and hears all their prayers. It's like a muslim version of Yom Kippur. Tens of thousands are expected to flood into the Al Aqsa Mosque and spend the entire night praying. That means - like every year - that we'll get very little sleep. I dread that.

I've been busy doing lots of translation work ... and still have some 30 pages to complete by tomorrow. Also professors from Italy are here helping my libraries in research and organization so I have to be around to answer their questions and give permissions for this and that. Last night I brought them out for dinner to thank them for their time and effort. There was something new on the menu in Legacy: Kubbeh and labaneh (yoghurt). It was very nice! Kubbeh is deep fried minced lamb with grounded corn shaped into curry-puffs (last night they did it like a fig). I liked it. In fact "kubbeh" is an arab corruption of the italian "cupola" meaning "dome".

Healthwise my asthma is under control ... for the moment. Maybe at Laylat el Kader I should pray for good health ... that these asthma attacks stop crippling my life. Maybe it'll work.

Chinatown in Ben Yehudi Mall

HaHistadrut Street becomes Chinatown

A lovely breeze is blowing today which helps make the heat endurable. Evenings are also quite pleasant ... unless if you're living in the Muslim Quarter ... because the noise of Ramadan feasting goes on till 4am. And it gets pretty rowdy in my area. So far this week no fights or scuffles among the gangs or families.

The past 2 days of rioting in the Al Aqsa Mosque has led the police today to bar all non-muslim visitors into the compound till the end of Ramadan. Smart decision. They should have done that earlier. Anyway despite the closure, muslim youths threw stones down at the Wailing Wall, injuring one jewish worshipper.

A dragon!

Further up north in the Lebanese-Syrian border, a christian village was attacked by a suicide bomber. The catholics were in church for a funeral of victims of a previous suicide bombing. This is dreadful. The persecution continues ... and in some places is getting worse. In Palestinian towns, there is a stoppage of water supply because Israel turned off the taps. That's what they claim. Israel says it's because these towns do not have the upgraded facilities to channel the water from Israel. Whatever it is, plants, animals and soon people will be dying of thirst.

Yet nothing is stopping the summer celebration here in Israel. Each lateral street in Ben Yehudi Mall is decked in a different theme. HaHistadrut street is now a little Chinatown. Not just rows of chinese lanterns but one long dragon as well. I wonder what the ultra-orthodox jews think about that ..... idolatry of the 1st degree. Lets see if they'll burn it down.

Colourful summer

Summer shade
at Ben Yehuda
pedestrian Mall

So the big news is the SIA plane and the emergency landing and the fire on its engines. Rather than focus on the fire .... newspapers should be focussing on the fact that NO ONE died, all passengers and crew were saved. That is the fact.

For a second day there were riots in the Al Aqsa Compound in the morning. The Israeli police had allowed jewish visitors into the compound, igniting religious sensitivities from the numerous muslims there fasting on Ramadan. This Friday will be the last Friday of Ramadan and things will get explosive if the police do not make some decisions .... which will be unpopular.

The weather is still hot ... though there is a cool breeze blowing once in a while. I am still feeling too weak and the thought of walking up 1km in the heat to work simply gets the worse of me. I had a sleep marathon yesterday as I did not want to go out in the heat. Slept through 15 hours. My tired body and mind just switched off.

Agapanthus and Canna lilies in bloom

Today I'm feeling better but my stomach is still not good. Instant diarrhea with anything I eat. I mean anything. So I've been starving / fasting to avoid complications when I'm working. Perhaps that's why I feel weak.

Well there're another 3 months of summer to go ... I hope to pull through.

Another weekend

6am trickle of
muslim pilgrims

Some 30,000 muslims entered the Old City on Friday. Israel had lifted the ban on Palestinians from entering Israel ... taking a big risk at security. In fact Israel had gone quite far to accommodate the palestinians, removing barriers around Damascus Gate and hiring local arab youths to direct traffic inside the Old City.

On Thursday night and Friday early morning, the streets around our house were packed with muslim pilgrims. But after the sunrise prayer (4.30am), everything turned quiet. The streets were empty, families went to sleep (best way to keep the fast). But 6am muslim pilgrims from the Territories began to enter the Olc City, starting with a trickle but by 8am into waves of thousands. Before noon, 30,000 had passed through our streets. There was no way we could get out of our house ... so I didn't go to work.

Chapel of the Convent of D'Ivrea

Which was just as well because I have been extremely sick. A severe allergic reaction to something the docs could not identify. But I recognised the symptoms: it was definitely a food or chemical allergy. Finally I narrowed it down to the yoghurt I ate on Monday and Tuesday at the Convent of D'Ivrea where I had to celebrate Mass last week. The sisters provide a good breakfast after Mass but the yoghurt contains a preservative that I am allergic to. Had been very sick as a result. Now that I have stopped eating it ... 4 days later, I'm feeling a little better.

The heatwave is still hitting us. And plus the great  crowds in the streets, I try not to go out if possible except that I still need to go to work. Must try to work out a route that is in the shade and a time when the streets are quiet in order to get to work.

The Cross will triumph

Why doesn't the West care about the plight of christians in the Middle East? A good question ... a fair question ... but who bothers to answer? Jewish newspaper Ha-aretz poses this question which you should read.  http://www.haaretz.com/jewish/books/.premium-1.724983

Christianity in the Middle East is on the brink of extinction. But does anyone care? Does any christian outside the Middle East care?  http://www.foxnews.com/world/2015/11/05/christianity-could-be-completely-erased-from-middle-east-in-less-than-decade.html

Let the Middle Eastern christians tell you themselves.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_zXRYkLtU-M

That's a sad fact ... christianity is being attacked in its very cradle - the Holy Land.

Colorful summer fruit from
our kitchen

But in faith we know that the Cross will triumph. Islam has every reason to fear the Cross ... because the Cross is the triumph of Love and Mercy and Compassion, unlike Islam. And as another christian is killed by the Islamists, another crack in Islam is made. That's how we see it; those of us who live here. We have no other alternative worldview that can either explain our tragedy or give us strength to continue.

Unlike the beautiful colors of different fruit in season now in the Middle East, religion ... the predominant religion here in the Middle East fears diversity, sees differences as a threat and enforces conformity as a means of control.

Still very sick

Beggar at Damascus
Gate

Today is worse. The strange thing is the asthma just disappeared this morning. But I've been feeling very faint, dizzy, disoriented, cold sweat, and very fatigued. I thought a heart attack was on the way. And it's always when I'm like this sick that people begin to make demands ... insisting on instant replies and decisions. I refused to go to work today. Just can't do it. Doc says its exhaustion and dehydration and recovery from the massive allergic attack ... my body just can't handle it anymore.

Monday was the Greek Orthodox feast of Pentecost. But their celebration at the Last Supper Room was disrupted by orthodox Jews who demonstrated and became quite violent. Police had to come in to protect the Greeks. The jews hold the lower room to be the Tomb of King David ... which is absolute nonsense historically and archaeologically. They accuse christian worship in the upper room as idolatry and rendering David's Tomb impure.

More beggars

Today Israel's Parliament (Knesset) approved a bill to make Aliyah Day a national holiday. Aliyah literally means "going up" as found in the psalms "Let us go up to Jerusalem". Today it means migrating to Israel ... obviously by diaspora jews.

So while jewish immigrants continue to flock into the country, arabs get kicked out of their houses to make way for houses for these jewish immigrants. Right now in Ramadan, the streets and City Gates are filled with beggars.

Other news: 5 people drowned in various beaches this week ... the heatwave has pushed people to cool off in the beaches but unusual currents are killing off swimmers. Also the Israeli military shot dead a 15 yr old arab mistaking him for a stone-thrower. I think this will cause some rioting on Friday. And in the midst of this heatwave, Israel has cut off water supply to the Palestinian Territories. The arabs in there are now short of water in this dreadful heat.

And more beggars

In Syria the Syrian Orthodox Patriarch escaped with his live as a suicide bomber blew himself up at the entrance of a church where the Patriarch was. And orthodox christians coming to Jerusalem for Pentecost have been profiled and some roughly treated at the airport ... unbelievable. Through the 2 Intifadas, there have never been a christian terrorist!!!! What is the military and security thinking???

Anyway the heatwave is getting on me. There is an electricity cut right now ... not sure if it's only our house or the entire neighbourhood. But that means no fans are working.

Very sick

I never felt so sick as I was yesterday. The asthma had become uncontrollable ... but I am sure something else is to blame ... because the bronchial spasms are not usual and are those of a strong medical allergic reaction I once had 6 years ago when I was prescribed a medicine that went all wrong. It caused spasms in my bronchus so I could not breathe ... I was practically choking. Blacked out twice as a result of the choking yesterday. Was at the doctor's who gave me an injection immediately ... but it did not help much.

Hahahahaha

Today I did not go to work as I still felt very sick with constant gasping for air. Managed to sleep almost 6 hours yesterday and today ... which was good. Am still feeling very weak and disoriented. Maybe I should try a Grandma's Cocktail ... saw this sign on a fresh juice shop in the New City last week. Seems to have a cure for most ailments ...now I wonder if there's one for asthma and bronchial spasms. Couldn't resist taking a photo of it. By the way, these cocktails are very expensive. A small cup costs up to US$10 and the large is almost US$50. Unbelievable? Well everything in Israel is expensive. It's almost impossible to live normally here ... you just need to count every agorot (= cent) before you buy anything. My usual process is to ask myself before I buy anything "Do I really need it? Will it make any difference if I didn't get it?" Then I walk away ... saving another few shekels for another day.

Road to Herod's
Gate strewn with
debris after
the riot

Ramadan is not as tense in the daytime as it is in the night. Last night another riot took place behind and in front of our house. Arab youths in our neighbourhood fought running battles with police and soldiers. This morning I had to go to the Convent of D'Ivrea for Mass .... one of our rotating duties. It's almost 1 km away in East Jerusalem and we need to pass through Herod's Gate to get there. That means going through the Old City's toughest neighbourhood. The street leading to Herod's gate was filled with stones, broken glass, broken bits of furniture.

As I almost reached Herod's Gate, police came out from an alley with a youth in handcuffs. They were followed by more police in riot gear. This is usually the modus operandi ... police watch the videos of the riot and make arrests within hours. There are some 260 cameras in the Old City streets. The moment you enter the Old City your movements are being monitored. You just can't get away.

Tragic accident at Furama chinese restaurant

Night market at
Nablus Road

Friday passed without incident despite the thousands of muslims coming into the Al Aqsa Mosque from the Palestinian Territories. There were some scuffles in the villages but nothing serious. Saturday and today Sunday also saw busloads of muslims coming into Jerusalem from the Territories. Entry to the Al Aqsa Mosque is inside the Old City so these people need to enter usually from Damascus Gate or Herod's Gate to get to one of the entrances to the Mosque compound. Our house is right between these 2 City gates, so you can imagine the traffic in front of our house. Simply put: we couldn't go out of our house because of the human wave.

In the evenings after the canon has been fired (actually its not longer a canon but a missile launcher that sent up a massive firework that explodes in the sky), everyone goes home to eat and the streets become empty. After an hour the crowds come back out into the streets and start festivities. In Nablus Road the Ramadan night market is in full swing, as well as all the muslim shops in the City. Lots of food and toy stalls but hardly anyone is buying anything. Only shops selling women's clothes, shoes and handbags are doing well.

Night market

Yesterday an awful accident happened at the chinese Furama restaurant at Ben Yehudi street in Tel Aviv. The restaurant is run by several Hong Kongers who make their own dumplings, wonton and pao. Really good food. And a regular haunt for Singaporeans working in Tel Aviv. Last night a driver suffered a heart attack and his car went out of control, smashing into the restaurant, killing 3 patrons and injuring many others. Other patrons thought it was a terrorist attack and they started beating the driver who was already unconscious. Public lynching. That's the level of fear and hatred in Israeli society today. Remember last year an innocent ethiopic asylum seeking was lynched and killed because he was mistaken as a terrorist? Life is now dangerous in Israel if you're not Israeli. You can get beaten up or killed for nothing other than a suspicion.

2nd Friday of Ramadan

Roads leading to Damascus Gate
were all closed to traffic

Apparently Israel has reversed it's ban on Palestinians coming into Israel during Ramadan. The ban was placed last week after the Tel Aviv massacre by 2 arabs from Hebron (Palestinian Territory). But this morning thousands upon thousands of muslims from the Territories flooded into the Old City to get into the Al Aqsa Mosque.

There were so many of them that Damascus Gate was practically turned over to them for entry and exit to the Old City. Jews began using our christian New Gate to enter the City. Police presence was stepped up. By noon even the roads outside the City walls, those main thoroughfares leading to East Jerusalem and Damascus Gate ,were all closed to traffic. The chaos it created was unbelievable. The human wave kept flooding into the City and then after prayers at the Mosque, it flooded back out.

Making qattayef pancakes

Though most food shops are closed during Ramadan, there are some who still open. It's been much more tolerant this year. They were allowed to function without harassment from muslim extremists (unlike previous years). One of my favourite Ramadan food is on sale and made fresh during the fasting hours!!! It's Qattayef pancakes .... usually it's wrapped with cheese or walnuts and drizzled with honey. But in Ramadan they sell the pancakes alone so people can add their own fillings later in the evening when fasting is over. I like eating it with jam for breakfast. Half a kilo costs 6 shekels .... pretty reasonable.

Packing qatteyef
pancakes for sale

On the political front, former intellgence and defence chiefs have ganged up to criticise the PM for his recent tactics. They have lost confidence in him and some are openly challenging his leadership and govt. Let's see how it ends. The PM is famous for using scare tactics to keep himself in power. During the last election he warned of "busloads of arabs coming to outvote the jews" ... thus drawing more jewish votes for himself to battle the "enemy vote'. Now it looks like he'll use the fear of a looming Lebanon war to rally even the reluctant citizen behind him ... as no one wants a divided country during a war.

Well this summer looks pretty heated from all this .... plus the heatwave that's still hovering over us. But looking back the past years, that's usually what the Ramadan scene has been. Nothing unusual.

Heatwave

Franciscan Sisters of the Eucharist
pay a visit to the Chinese Convent

A massive heatwave has spread across the country these past 3 days and forecast is it will also till next week. Daytime temperatures soar to over 40 degrees and the nights can be quite crazy: from 12 degrees to 29 degrees. This is certainly a bad time for the Ramadan Fast ... which lasts some 14 hours or so. Today I was walking some 6 km up and down the Old City doing useless chores in this heat, and without food ... so I can tell you it's like to fast and work in this terrible weather.

The PDDM sisters visit the
Chinese Convent

The heatwave is so bad there were a couple of forest fires, one at the entry into Jerusalem form the Highway 1. It was so bad the police had to close the Highway for a couple of hours. I finally have my portable aircon out as the nights are unbearable. And my asthma attacks make it worse.

And talking about heat ... the Pan Orthodox Synod, the first in over 1000 years, is almost becoming a battle ground even before it starts tomorrow (Friday) in Crete. The Moscow patriarch is threatening to boycott the Synod, as the Bulgarian, Georgian and Antiochene patriarchs have already refused to attend. It looks like Moscow is trying to wrest power from the Constantinople (Istanbul) Ecumenical Patriarch who serves as the "first among equals" - symbolic unifying role but not in authority. Looks like a schism is about to hatch. But just a word of caution here: this involves only the Byzantine Rite Orthodox churches and not the other rites such as Coptic, Armenian, Syrian or Ethiopic. The whole problem underlying this is the orthodox limitation to a geographical and racial sphere of each church. It has no international / universal / catholic outlook. National pride and racial pride comes first. This will become orthodoxy's downfall and the rise of universal-aspect christianity such as protestant movements will slowly take over these orthodox churches.

The weekend starts tomorrow .... let's see the heatwave will cool down a little and if the Pan Orthodox Synod will actually go ahead.

St. Anthony of Padua/Lisboa

Getting to know the students

St. Anthony is the patron of the Holy Land .... he wanted to be a missionary and martyr here but he was not sent. Instead he was asked to teach theology in Italy. Anyway it's a big solemnity for us ... gloria and credo sung at Mass. This week also is my turn to preside at the liturgy so it's a lot of singing and chanting. Tiring for me as I have asthma and intoning the chants can be very difficult for my breathless lungs.

Blessing the people

Anyway the age old question: should St. Anthony be called "of Padua" or "of Lisbon"? He died in the former but was born in the latter. He is a portuguese. Italians and portuguese jostle to call the saint their own.

Saying the prayers

Last night we had the honor of Bishop Ha ofm coming to bless the Chinese Convent. It was a private affair. Mother Teresa's sisters came to join in. Also Chinese students from various universities and institutes here in Jerusalem. A simple meal ended the evening. It was nice to have the bishop's support in our endeavour dos serve the church in the Holyland.

Blessing the
Oratory

Blessing the rooms

Shavuot

Empty streets on feast of Shavuot

It's Shavuot today - the jewish Pentecost. The City is deadly quiet. No work is permitted according to the Torah. This becomes very inconvenient because its also Ramadan and all food is forbidden on sale; in fact because muslims are fasting 14 hours a day, many simply don't work. And today being Sunday, christian shops are also closed. So if you need anything, today is a bad day to get it. Almost all Christian, Jewish and Muslim shops are closed.

Tensions continue to be high but no major incidents have occurred. Damascus on the other hand saw an explosion that killed several people. Damascus so far had been relatively peaceful. Has the violence moved from Aleppo to Damascus? Let's hope not. There are many christians there.

Half-finished won
ton noodles

The weather has been fine so far ... warm during the day but not too hot and evenings are cool. Let's hope this does not encourage violence in the streets. People just want to enjoy the holidays. Muslims eat outside their houses after sunset, enjoying the breeze. Jews eat their cheesecakes and cheese products for Shavuot, taking walks in the parks, enjoying nature which is what Shavuot is about.

Tomorrow is the feast of St. Anthony of Padua (or Lisbon if you're portuguese). It's a holiday of us because he's the patron saint of the Holyland. He had always wanted to be a missionary to the Holyland but was not given permission.

Thanks to Dominic Tam, Yvonne, Miriam & family, Cavero family, Rowena, Celina, and many others for your wishes, gifts and kind thoughts.  And the food brought over from HK was great. Finished the won ton noodles within half hour of its arrival!!! Yvonne's chiffon cakes were finished the next day in one sitting.

Pentecost

This evening begins the jewish feast of Pentecost or in hebrew Shavuot. It was originally a harvest feast but since agriculture is now only a minority profession, and the Temple has been destroyed 1900 years ago, the feast is now centered on the giving of the Torah to the jewish people. Long story about this evolution .... go google it.

Fence cutting across Palm Plaza

Anyway things are tense as muslims celebrate the first Friday of Ramadan yesterday and Jews begin Shavuot. Both groups use Damascus Gate to get to their respective places of worship. police had now advised jews to useably Damascus Gate and muslims to use the other 2 City gates: Herod's and Lions'. Palm Plaza in front of Damascus Gate has a metal fence running right across the north-south line, effectively separating East Jerusalem (arab) from West Jerusalem (jewish). I guess it's a security measure to stop arabs from entering the jewish side of Jerusalem or terrorists from entering Damascus Gate. Anyway it looks terrible .... dividing the City like this.

"Mian" noodles

It has been so exhausting today my body crashed. Massive asthma attacks and despite that I still had to work all morning ... but by lunch time everything fell apart. I stayed in bed as I could not walk with the asthma ... and fell asleep for some 4 hours. It was good.

And the past few days as I had so much work to do (14 hours a day) I could only get food from around the corner. Which is nice. Because around the corner is now the new chinese restaurant "Mian" that serves cantonese soup noodles. Really delicious ... and typically Hong Kong, it's a quick meal so I have time to get back to work.

Thanks to everyone for the food, clothes, bag and gifts. Sorry but I'm too tired right now to list all the names. But assuring you that I got everything and am grateful.

Terrorist attack in Tel Aviv

Damascus Gate last night

Yesterday evening the dreadful news of an arab attack in Tel Aviv rocked the country. Two or maybe more arabs from Hebron dressed like ultra-orthodox jews entered a popular restaurant, ate dinner then started shooting at the people there. 4 dead 18 injured. All this because Israel offered access to Palestinians from the Territories to come out at worship at the Al Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem during Ramadan. So rightly today Israel revoked the permits of over 83,000 arab muslims to enter Israel again.

But the shock was that it could happen in Tel Aviv .... usually calm and seldom terrorized. And that these terrorists could actually go so far out into Tel Aviv instead of nearby Jerusalem.

Arab muslims, youths especially, who were in the Al Aqsa to pray last night came out at about 9.30pm chanting and rejoicing over the deaths. Damascus Gate became the focal point for their celebration. Chants of Allah Akbar and other nationalistic slogans drowned out the area. But the Israeli police kept a cool head. They remained at the top of the steps but only charged once to disperse the crowd. Unfortunately I couldn't get home because the Gate was blocked by these demonstrators. I had to go home from Herod's Gate 500 meters further east. When I entered the house, the demonstrators gathered inside the City bear our house. Police fired 2 stun grenades and ended the demonstration.

Well this attack should be read in context ... to be fair. 2 days previously jews were attacking arabs in the Jerusalem train stations, racial slurs and blasphemies were thrown at the arabs. It got very little news attention but the local arab population felt it especially when it's Ramadan.

I can only imagine things getting worse after Ramadan.

Ramadan begins

Friars in procession at Damascus Gate

Well finally the Ramadan cannon was fired! I thought the muslims had abandoned this tradition because on Sunday evening when Ramadan started there was no cannon fired. But yesterday (Monday evening) it was fired. Sounded very strange tough ... much sharper and clearer. They must have changed new cannons.

The new Custos arrived and made his official entry into the City. It was a big affair. Heads of all the different churches and religions were there to welcome him. Even the protestant leaders were there ... the first time they have participated in this solemn entry I was told. I couldn't go because I had to work. Too bad.

Dumpster filled with good food

Yesterday as I was going to work, I passed by a dumpster filled with good edible fresh fruit .... the police had confiscated them from an illegal hawker and threw it all away!!! I was furious! How many poor families cold have eaten from that!! Why couldn't the police have given it to charity? It was terrible. This is how Ramadan is celebrated? Fasting and throwing away good food.

Jerusalem Day but not Ramadan

Thank goodness there were no major clashes and violence during the Jerusalem Day march through the Muslim Quarter of the Old City. At 4am jewish groups were already marching into the City, chanting, singing, banging drums and waking up the muslim population.

The 1st group of jewish marchers
in front of our house at 11am

Then there was a lull in the morning when hundreds of muslims entered the City for possibly the last day of prayers before Ramadan is declared this evening. Police had filed for a ban for jewish groups to make the march through the Muslim Quarter for fear of clashes, but the High Court decided that it should go ahead but anticipated by 15 mins so it should end before sunset and not provoke the muslims who might begin Ramadan at sunset. Well Ramadan was not declared because the new moon could not be sighted ... the final call lies with Saudi Arabia to declare Ramadan or not.

Tens of thousands of
marchers at El Wad
street near the 3rd
Station

Jewish groups began coming in by noon but staggered as noon and after-noon muslim prayers saw the streets closed to jewish groups. Insults and derogatory chants were aimed at muslims but no major clashes occurred.

I didn't go out today as it was very hot. And I was not feeling well as my asthma has crippled me the whole night and day. Just walking up a flight of stairs tire me.

And we received news that last Saturday when the catholic community in the city of Rehovot (near Tel Aviv) was celebrating Corpus Christi with Bishop Shomali, a group of jewish youths attacked the congregation during Mass, throwing stones. Bit of course these perpetrators  will never be caught, just like those who burned the Trappist church doors, vandalised the Last Supper Room, burned the Church of 5 Loaves and 2 Fish ...

Heatwave

The excruciating heatwave has returned ... this time with high humidity. Bread and food are getting mouldy when left unrefrigerated overnight. Everyone is trying to walk in the shade when outside. People are saying it was 40 degrees ... but I'm not sure. It was 35 degrees in the morning because I double-checked.

Street lights
under protection

Perhaps this heat will hamper the rightist youth groups planning to march through our Muslim Quarter tomorrow. Last night at 2am there was a lot of noisy chatter in the streets; so loud it woke me up. I went out to the terrace to check it out and behold, over 100 jewish youths were marching through our street under soldier guard. And they made sure everyone woke up to that. This evening smaller groups walked through our Quarter too, under protection from soldiers of course. I think tonight larger groups will come and climax tomorrow into thousands. Frightening as they can get very aggressive and violent to non-jews.

Well to equal up ... the Head of Counter-Terrorism announced that a small ISIS cell is already established here in Israel and terrorism should be expected in the near future.

Anyway yesterday municipality workmen did a whirlwind job of covering our street lamps with mesh wire and iron frames. That's how serious they think tomorrow's clash will be!!! And me?? I'm still mulling about going out to Damascus Gate and see the riots. That's me. Hope I don't get asthma attacks when tear-gas is fired.

Nearing D-Day

Cranes at Damascus Gate fixing
security cameras

It's Thursday and tomorrow is the last Friday before Ramadan. Tensions are building up. The Municipality is so anxious over the inevitable clash between muslims and rightwing extremists youths on Sunday that they're planning the nationalistic march through the muslim quarter at an earlier hour .... probably morning instead of afternoon. Last year the jewish youths wanted to march down East Jerusalem to burn arab shops and houses. Yes it is that bad. It's a D-Day scenario.  http://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/.premium-1.722610

Olive trees pruned to provide
better vision for security cameras

2 days ago the Municipality fixed more security cameras at Damascus Gate (I think there were already 6 in place). Trees around the garden were chopped off to clear the line of vision as well. That is how serious the Municipality considers this Sunday clash to be. I really don't know what to make of it. Should I stay home? My instincts say to go out and risk getting attacked. I like the excitement. Last year I was nearly attacked because the extremist jews were really anti-non-jew ... attacking anyone in sight. I had stayed at a safe distance ... but at times not safe enough when rushing crowds chased arabs and beat them up.

The weather has been quite nice lately ... sunny but a cool breeze blowing constantly. That will encourage more people to turn out for the march. But things can change by Sunday.

1/6/16

Today is 1/6/16 ... nice coincidence of numbers. And a day with some major surprises here in our country. Firstly the off-duty police who beat up an arab supermarket worker for no reason have been reported to be under criminal investigation for their unwarranted violence. It's a little good news .... something we did not expect as these police usually enjoy impunity and are beyond reproach. Anyway it's just investigations and it might (or will) end in nothing. http://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/.premium-1.722553

Secondly last week's uproar among Israelis calling for arab blood over the alleged rape of a mentally retarded jewish woman by 3 arab youths has suddenly taken a twist: the woman today has admitted that there was no rape, that her family fabricated the story to stop her affair with one of the youths. The original accusations were dreadful, that the rape was nationalistically motivated (meaning arab attack on jews) which included racial slurs, spitting and battering. Now it's all reversed .... and there is a great silence on the jewish side. http://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/1.722592

On the negative side we learn from the newspapers that police have been undertaking night raids in jerusalem villages, arresting people. Possibly it's a deterrent move ahead of Ramadan?Jerusalem Day celebrations when we expect major clashes. And Israel's top jewish terrorist, a 23 yr old extremist associated with attacks on non-jews and arabs (burning of the Dawabsheh family house killing both parents and the 1 yr old baby) has been released from detention. Scot free.

Jaffa Street and the tramway
packed with people

Anyway away from the contentious front, the nights here in Jerusalem continue to be packed with thousands of visitors to the Festival of Lights. It was like former years. I went to see the Pink route which is in the New City. Jaffa Street was so packed the trams had difficulty passing as people occupied the tracks. Buskers took opportunity to perform and earn a little something. The usual Thursday night market (= pasar malam) was opened last night as well. And I returned to Zedekiah's Cave on the way home because it was so fascinating. I needed to see it again .... also because entry is free of charge during the Festival.