Tuesday

Empty streets and
shops on strike

Yesterday saw 58 killed and over 2000 injured at the Gaza-Israel border. Horrible tragedy ... and it is wrong to send people to the border fence and endanger their lives when Israel already warned that they will be shot. It is irresponsible because the crowds were used as a blanket to cover terrorists with arms and bombs. It's no better than a human shield. On the other hand, Israel could have used other means of deterrence before using live fire. And all these took place while Jerusalem was celebrating the American embassy move ... a "day to remember" says the PM.  The leftwing Haaretz newspaper put it cynically "Jerusalem celebrates, Tel Aviv parties and Gaza bleeds".   https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/MAGAZINE-jerusalem-celebrates-tel-aviv-parties-and-gaza-bleeds-1.6092448

Today it's Nakba Day ... when Palestinians lament the lost of their land to the israelis. Some 750,000 were forced to leave their homes and land to become refugees around the region while Israelis built homes in those lands. There were clashes throughout the Territories and border checkpoints. Even around Jerusalem ... but not in the Old City itself. Here there was an eerie silence because of a general strike in East Jerusalem and throughout the Palestinian Territories. The streets are deserted and it eerily reminded me of the Intifada days when war was intensely fought and strikes were a daily occurrence. Just saw the news of clashes in Bethlehem.  https://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-5261314,00.html

TV reporter at deserted Damascus
Gate

But there is another march today ... the march of the Nations where Holocausts survivors march with their supporters. More roads will be closed in West Jerusalem and traffic will be diverted. Local residents are tired of these constant disturbances ... there are road closures almost once a week. As someone said, this week nobody is happy for some reason or other. One thing though, news reporters have a lot of work.

I'll try and stay out of troublesome spots but it's difficult when you have work outside. What we want to know is will Ramadan begin tonight? The firing of the canon will let us know.