Squills on Ketev Hinnom

Squill flowering on Bible Hill

A massive police hunt in the surrounding villages has led to the arrest of some 20 arab youths. And this sweep will probably continue for the next few days till the Jewish holidays start. In fact we have never seen so many stop-and-search as yesterday and today. Border police at every corner and City Gate have been stopping youths at an unprecedented manner. I have seen it for myself this morning. To respect the dignity of the youths, I did not take the photos. I really wanted to though.  http://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/1.743617

7 grocers who open during the Sabbath has been brought to court by the ultra-orthodox jews in Jerusalem for breaking the Sabbath Law. Majority of the citizens are angered ... because it's another knife plunged into the hear5t of Jerusalem's inhabitants. Their lives are now controlled by a minority ultra-orthodox jews who decided what they can and cannot do.  http://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/.premium-1.743074

There's finally news of this ultra-orthodox and ultra-fanatic group of jewish youths who physically attack arabs. It happens every week ... and every time charges are cancelled because "there is not enough evidence" according to the Courts. This si dreadful when the attacks lead to hospitalization. It's more than harassment, it's terrorism. If it were perpetrated by arabs, they'd be arrested or shot as terrorists.  http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4857318,00.html

Yet in the face of all these, yesterday carried the Vatican news: the Pope asked everyone not to judge but to forgive. Very very tough challenge.  http://www.news.va/en/news/pope-tells-us-not-to-judge-not-to-condemn-but-to-f

My subluxed shoulder came out again last night when I slept on my right side, putting weight on the right shoulder. The pain was terrible but I was quick enough to jerk it back into the socket. Carrying a backpack also causes the joint to fall out. I'll have to change to a sling bag instead. That's life.

Spikes of Squill

Meantime the wild Squills are flowering profusely on Ketev Hinnom, the hill facing the Hinnom Valley. It's an amazing sight .... thousands of long spikes  covered in small white flowers look like spears stuck into the ground. That's a sure sign of autumn. Forecasts says it might rain tomorrow ... that means the autumn crocus will also bloom. It will be an amazing sight.