Prayer for Unity Week

Barren trees in the park

Police presence has been visibly stepped up today. All vehicles are now forbidden in our street (Via Dolorosa) except for residents'. Even tractors that bring in goods and vegetables to the shops are stopped. Only guys who push carts are allowed. Now that is a nice change for us ... less noise and danger in our narrow street in front of our door. And ... there're lots of stop-and-search at every police bloc. Well the reasons were mentioned in yesterday's blog. I dislike the tension that this creates. It feels so like something is going to give way ... and that's scary. Dialogue seems to be out of the equation. Anyway more news saying another 2,500 Israeli houses have been approved to be built in arab Palestine.   http://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/1.767203

Tel Aviv skyline at dawn: like a
painting

This also dampens the lovely weather we're having today. It was 15 degrees and very sunny though the wind can be quite cold. Teenage guys were practicing parkour in the park while some families were picnicking under the trees. While some bedouin hawkers were tolerated inside Damascus Gate, I witnessed a man selling balloons having his boxes kicked over by 6 soldiers and told to leave. The poor guy was grabbing all his goods along the steps, stuffing them back into boxes while the 6 soldiers stood over him. Miserable and humiliating. Lots of arabs stood and watched silently. No one dared to help, no one dared to criticise. This is the beginning.

This week is Prayer for Unity Week and prayers are offered at different christian churches throughout the City. Yesterday was at the Armenian Orthodox Cathedral. Tonight it's at the Anglican Cathedral. Lots of people join in ... nuns who have nothing to do, priests who are curious at seeing other churches, and lots of lay people who go for the free refreshments. Nothing like a little free food and curiosity to unite people.