Remembrance Day

Geraniums around the courtyard

It's Memorial Day today. Most public places of entertainment, shops and restaurants are closed to remember the 23000 fallen soldiers and 3000 terrorist victims. It's sombre ... a reminder of a country fighting for its existence. The sirens sounded at 8pm last night and again at 11am this morning.

The Left had organised an alternative Memorial Day where palestinians were also invited to remember their dead. It was not well received by the Israeli Right and there were demonstrations against it. Nevertheless over 8000 people attended and the High Court actually granted permits to 90 palestinians to enter Israel for this event. The Minister of Defense is outraged by this ruling.   https://www.timesofisrael.com/court-overturns-decision-to-bar-palestinians-from-memorial-day-service/

By the way, the Knesset is set to limit the powers of the High Court ... that the Knesset (parliament) can overturn a High Court ruling by a majority vote. Makes everyone wonder the rule of law and the independence of the Court.

Nasturtiums and daisies

I am still in voluntary lockdown so I can finish correcting the theses. I really hope the last few students hand in their chapters by today otherwise they'll not make the dateline on Friday. It's super pressurised ... I more than the students. I need a break but tomorrow's Independence Day holiday is burnt because I must be around the students for last minute advice.

Meantime the flowers that I've been caring for are flowering wonderfully. The courtyard of the sisters' convent has never looked so beautiful, with geraniums on 2 sides and other flowers on the other sides. That's something positive in an otherwise anxious week.