Tense Tuesday

Library staff Christmas gathering

It's tense today ... yesterday was a lot more relaxed. That's because tomorrow the american VP is coming and the palestinians are planning widespread demonstrations. Police have stepped up their numbers in and around the Old City. The King David Hotel area where the VP will be staying will be closed off ... as will the PM's house which is next to our monastery in the Rehavia neighborhood. I dread the next few days. Our daily lives will be disrupted by all the closures and demonstrations. Last night the jewish yeshiva students made their monthly march through the Muslim Quarter ... a very provocative act allowed by the police who accompany the hundreds of teenagers singing loudly, banging drums, spraying graffiti on our walls and doors. It's to show the arabs in our area that they're the bosses on this area. It's totally unnecessary and very provocative.  Our streets are totally closed off and we cannot go out or come in till the march is over.

Meantime things turned a little vicious when police found an arab strapped with an explosive device. If it's a suicide vest, then this will be a game changer as we never had them since the first Intifada 25 years ago. http://www.jpost.com/Israel-News/Police-arrest-man-with-explosive-device-strapped-to-body-in-West-Bank-518264

Santa Claus melting

And the jewish implosion continues. The city of Bet Shemesh has become extremely ultra-orthodox, who insist of segregation of sexes in public transport and among other things, women must dress according to their version of ultra-orthodox dress. Children and women who do not do so are harassed and even attacked in the open streets. One woman has brought them to Court and the Court has decided it is not legal for the ultra-orthodox to impose their way of life on others, to remove segregation bars and posters. Yesterday the ultra-orthodox have threatened to kill the woman who won the court order.  http://www.jpost.com/Israel-News/Women-who-sued-to-remove-Israeli-citys-modesty-signs-get-death-threats-518361

Today our university's library staff had their Christmas gathering. Each brought a dish ... I bought a pack of noodles and spring rolls from mandarin restaurant. My best arab friend who's muslim gave me a chocolate Santa Claus last night. We had a good laugh as it was melting and getting quite out of shape.