Calm Friday

Crowds leaving Damascus Gate

Today is the 1st Friday of Ramadan and thousands of muslims form all over the country have flocked into the Old City to pray in the AL Aqsa Mosque. Israel has allowed many palestinians from the Territories and Gaza to enter Jerusalem. But the police were taken all precautions to prevent riots and violence. Damascus Gate was closed with 3 rings of metal fences and the waves of muslims coming into the City. I was stuck at home till about 3pm when I tried to get to work. The crowds leaving the afternoon prayers was still huge though it was only the tail end. I had to take the alleys to get to work.  Fortunately there were no violence ... although youths dawdling around Damascus Gate constantly provoked the police with chants and whistles.

Frying salmon on a bbq pan

After work I went to my friend's apartment near the 6th Station. He invited me for dinner ... roasted salmon on charcoal fire. It was the first time I have been to these Old City apartments and the view was spectacular. He's an MA student at the Hebrew Uni. specialising in ancient Akkadian. Although brought up a strict Presbyterian, he knows quite a lot about the Catholic Church and we talked a lot about doctrine and practise. In fact we talked till 11pm and we ended up out in the cavea of Damascus Gate, watching the thousands of muslims leaving the Old City after the final night prayers. It took more than 2 hours for the crowds to exit and even then, it was not the end. More people kept pouring out.

Well tomorrow life will return to normal and hopefully our access to and from the Old City would be open.