Tragedies

Side streets blocked

The clashes yesterday ended badly with 3 arab youths killed. none however took place in Jerusalem itself but in the surrounding village of Ras al Amud, Abu Dis and Abu Tor all a couple of km south of Jerusalem. It was worse than we expected. But things got only worse later in the evening when news broke of 3 Israelis stabbed to death by an arab near Ramallah (17 km north of Jerusalem) while they were eating their Sabbath dinner. Utterly horrific. No one wins in a war of revenge. When will this all end?

Today streets and alleys in our Musim Quarter continue to be closed. Military presence is not as heavy but no one is taking any chances. Tit-for-tat attacks is the order of the day so we're expecting extremist jews to attack arabs next. Everyone is vigilant ...but local residents are out in the streets to do their necessary shopping of food and medicine. We've learned our lesson in sudden lockdowns and curfews ... that you might be locked at home for days ... so everyone is stocking up.

Last night just as the last muslim call to prayer was about to sung, there was a blackout in our Muslim Quarter. Imams rousing up the crowds who were gathered to pray in the streets were all left in the dark ... and I mean total darkness. It was only after 20 minutes that the main street lights came back. And then another quarter of an hour before some houses were lit ... and eventually the electric returned to all the houses. But it was enough to confuse the angry youths ... and possibly gave time to the military to set up positions before the prayer began. Riots usually follow this last prayer of the day.

Grandma and grandson outing in the
most dangerous street of the
Old City

Despite the tensions and explosive atmosphere, some tourists continue to walk down our street. Not groups as the guides know too well the dangers. It's those lone travellers ... young couples and youths who, despite being on the Internet the whole time on their cellphones, are utterly oblivious to the dangers just 20 meters ahead of them. They don't know of the riots and killings, they don't know who is fighting whom and why ... it's like they come from a different planet. So while muslim youths are screaming and running away from the police who were charging with batons and tear gas, these tourists continue to walk ahead and then get pushed aside ... then they get frighten and complain that no one told them about the dangers. They know the latest clubs and best restaurants in Jerusalem from their apps on their smartphones but they don't bother to check the local situation. Anyway every single one of them ... well, a total of over a dozen couples and a group of 3 guys were all turned back at various times in the night as they neared Lions Gate by the soldiers. What was pleasant yet sad was when I saw a very old grandma (possibly great grandma) and grandson walking along the Way of the Cross. It's rare to see these 2 generations come together. Grandma was teaching the grandson the suffering of Christ ... but ironically on the most dangerous street and most dangerous day of the year so far. I didn't have the heart to shoo them off ... it might be the only chance the grandma is spending with her grandson along the Way of the Cross.

Her's a list of videos and news reports on the clashes yesterday:
https://www.facebook.com/bbcnews/videos/10154922345907217/?hc_ref=ARRqHoL_TaAZSvAxZNXeJMVv1c-sO5yLhBZNAUmVimkzE-gNqvjWoKfLFNWSDk5KGXc&pnref=story

http://www.jpost.com/Arab-Israeli-Conflict/In-Pictures-Israeli-security-confronts-Palestinians-over-Temple-Mount-500340

http://www.jpost.com/Arab-Israeli-Conflict/Report-Stabbing-attack-in-Halamish-near-Ramallah-500382