More violence

Junction at 3rd Station of the Cross
closed to all except tourists now

And the violence just seem to increase. Last night was the stabbing attack at the Israeli Embassy in Amman .... then just a few minutes ago there was a stabbing in the city of Petah Tikva near Tel Aviv. It's becoming very complicated and widespread .... and soon the Israeli govt will not be able to contain it. One good face-saving way out for Israel to remove the metal detectors without appearing to be weak is to bargain for the release of the Israeli guard in Amman who shot and killed the 2 Jordanian stabbers and is now under arrest. In exchange for his release, Israel will remove the metal detectors ... that way both sides win and no one loses face.

Standoff between
arab youths at one
end of the tunnel,
and Israeli police at
the other end

But the problems for us on ground zero are still very real and frustrating ... streets continue to be closed ... spot checks on people ... We only want al this to end. Trouble and trouble-makers from outside Jerusalem cause our daily suffering in the Old City. And of course responsibility lies on the religious leaders who fan the uneducated masses into a frenzy of emotions ... which result in deaths. And you don't see any of these leaders anywhere when these young men die in the conflict.

Last night I witnessed a standoff right under our window ... I went out to take pictures. At one end of the tunnel, arab youths with stones and bottles in hand stand in provocation. At the other end of the tunnel Israeli Border Police have their weapons ready. In between them, prostrate on the floor, were muslim worshippers praying.

Let's hope some peace and serenity will come soon.