Armenian Genocide Memorial

Tea seller at
Damascus Gate

Yesterday was not only Holocaust Memorial Day ... it coincided with the Armenian Genocide memorial as well s the Muslim feast of Isra and Mirej (the ascension of Muhammed to heaven). You can imagine how crowded the Old City was. The Armenian Quarter was paced with armenians and supporters for prayers and a march to commemorate the millions killed by Ottoman Turks a century ago.  I've been wondering why the chinese never commemorate the killing of 21 million chinese by the japanese ... or any other asian country commemorating their dead murdered by the japanese. Are asians so afraid to confront their past? or is it practicality - just moving on ahead?

Thousands of muslims from across the country as well as pilgrims form Turkey and Indonesia flocked to the Al Aqsa Mosque for prayers. The crowd was smaller than in previous years tough ... because the past few days there were a series of stabbings and attacks by muslim youths on jews. I think the checkpoints were controlled with stricter regulations.

There's an article in the local newspaper about the secular jewish world feeling the power and might of the minority ultra-orthodox jewish world. Their secular way of life is being challenged and restricted and coerced by the latter ... and their power should never be under-estimated. Today the ultra-orthodox threatened to withdraw fro the coalition govt. thereby collapsing the govt.  http://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/.premium-1.785168   and   http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4953579,00.html

The ultra-orthodox have also irked the rest of Israelis yesterday when while Holocaust Memorial Day was marked with sober and sombre atmosphere, the ultra-orthodox held barbecues and parties. They rejoice at the deaths of the 6 million, saying it's God's punishment. It's always tragic to see such extreme opposing views on such a day.

Blooming date palms

The weather has remained cool all day ... no more than 14 degrees highest. We're wondering how long will this last. The tea-seller came out to Damascus Gate to hawk his tamarind tea dressed in his Ottoman costume ... something the Armenians would not be particularly happy with yesterday. As is usual between Passover and Pentecost, many fruit trees begin to bloom. Grapes, olives and date palms are profusely in flower because the heatwave the last few days made them speed up the pollination process.