Ramadan begins

Damascus Gate with all the lights

At about 8.30pm last night 7 shots from the cannon announced the start of Ramadan. Even before that, thousands of muslims had been entering the Old City toward the Al Aqsa Mosque ... all dressed up ... in anticipation of the cannon shots. When it sounded, some streets were still not prepared with decorative lights and people were rushing about with ladders trying to attach bulbs to the electric wires about the streets. Shops and temporary stalls were opened till midnight, doing big business as people bought lots of stuff to celebrate Ramadan. Muslims feasts till 3am then as the first rays of sunlight shine across the Mt of Olives, the cannon sounds again to announce the beginning of the fast.  People then go to sleep ... and the streets are lovely, peaceful and quiet. At least for the next 30 days.

Israel has decided to relax its border restrictions and allow muslims from Palestine and Gaza to come to Jerusalem to pray during Ramadan. It's a big risk ... but if Israel keeps it's security intel closely monitored, there should not be a problem. By making the muslims happy, chances for violence clashes are diminished. And considering that the arab hunger-strikers in Israeli prisons are a main cause that catalyses arab violence .... this move to relax entry to Jerusalem is a smart move. This morning we read that the hunger strike is off because Israeli Prison services have compromised and allowed them one more extra visit per month. Smart move again. Give concessions to avoid greater catastrophe.  http://www.timesofisrael.com/israel-to-ease-access-for-palestinians-during-ramadan/   and   http://www.jpost.com/Arab-Israeli-Conflict/Palestinian-prisoners-hunger-strike-ends-after-marathon-negotiations-494037

Palms lighted up in the Plaza

The murder of 28 Coptic christians, mostly children, is still shocking all of us. All major muslim powers have condemned it ... even Qatar and Hamas. But it's all lip-service. Coupled with this is ISIS kidnap of a priest and his congregation in Mindanao, Philippines. Something drastic and decisive must be done. Maybe it'll take an unconventional and unpolitically-correct Duterte and Trump to solve this problem once and for all.