Schindler's birthday

Mounted police patrol the streets

Friday again ... tense as Israel's National Day approaches. Police presence is markedly stepped up. But likewise the arab presence in the Old City. Being Friday, lots of muslims from around the country came to the Al Aqsa Mosque ... as a non-verbal expression of arab claim over the City even as Israeli flags are being hoisted in every corner, every street lamp, every door.

And things happening around the City and country are not helping to dissipate the tension. Israel is going ahead to occupy land in arab East Jerusalem to build a jewish welcome center. This only ignites arab anger ... who see Israel's National Day as simply land-grabbing.  http://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/.premium-1.785546

Tensions at the Israeli-Syrian border is not getting better. After the alleged Israeli bombing of the airport in Damascus, Syria sent a drone into Israel. Israel bombed it out of the sky, then late last night we learn Syrian sent its army to the Golan Heights to the Israeli border. Things are escalating ... all on the eve of Israel's National Day.  http://www.virtualjerusalem.com/news.php?Itemid=25953

As every year since the founding of Israel in 1948, the eve of National Day is always preceded by a census of the nation. Israel today as over 8 million inhabitants. It's a form of stock-checking.  http://www.timesofisrael.com/israel-at-69-has-8680000-citizens-43-of-world-jewry/

Not that everyone knows or cares, but today April 28th in 1908 Oskar Schindler was born. He is buried in our Franciscan Cemetery on Mt. Zion.