Violence at Damascus Gate

Sunny day for picnic in the park

Yesterday at about 4pm an arab woman about 50 yrs old was shot dead at Damascus Gate for apparently trying to stab police. Her son was wrongly shot and killed by police a year before ... being mistaken for a terrorist. And we guess the mother's grief was too much to bear so she went toward the police with a pair of scissors. People in the streets are saying it was a suicide attempt. It's not the first time. 2 years back when the stabbings began, many young girls were shot dead for carrying knives and threatening police and soldiers though never actually stabbing them. They were trying to escape from forced marriages or abusive husbands and so decided to end their lives this way.

Well because of this, our Quarter was locked down. City Gates were closed. No one could go in or out for over an hour. It's a price we who live in this area have to pay for the acts of individuals. We in the Old City want to live in peace, to live normal lives. But everytime someone from outside comes in to cause trouble, we are the ones who pay the price.

Arabs confront Israeli police

The weather is warm and sunny and many people were picnicking at Damascus Gate Park ... and you won't know that just 50 meters down there was violence. Today police tried to clear Damascus Gate of hawkers and a confrontation ensued with the local arabs. I was walking to M. Teresa's convent for adoration and confessions when I saw it. I decided to quickly get away as I don't want to be caught up in the middle of a fight.

The tension between the 2 peoples have been running undercurrent for some time and perhaps now it's erupting. An israeli talk show host spelled out the reasons for this tension. I'm not sure if a majority of israelis would share this view ... but you watch it and make up your mind.  http://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/1.774663