War?

Seen at 5th Station

What a barrage of missiles today! Yesterday Gaza fired 17 rockets and today 80. Israel is not bombarding Hamas positions inside Gaza. Yesterday the Israeli army made a secret raid inside Gaza but were beaten back by Hamas. One high-ranking officer was killed. Emboldened by their success, Hamas today launched 80 rockets into southern Israel. Despite the pledges to a truce ... it seems no one is keeping to their part of the bargain. Only a war can solve this tension.

Yesterday after our long walk up and down the Mt. of Olives to celebrate our feast day, Leo and I went to Arab Fried Chicken to buy 2 pieces of chicken to eat. It was a takeaway so I didn't know what was in the box except what we had ordered. Back home we opened the box and found 4 pieces of chicken instead of 2 and an extra box of french fries. Well we ate it anyway but I went back today to pay for the extra pieces. After work I walked down to East Jerusalem ... it was dark at 4.30pm and quite cold. When Explained to the same guy who took my order what happened and placed the 15 shekels on the cashier counter but he refused. He said I'm a regular customer and a friend so he won't take the money. I felt bad but also grateful that there are good people still. I know and have seen with my own eyes several times when poor school children or poor widows stop by AFC and ask for a drink or some bread, and the workers give them chicken as well as money.

A section of the only road running along the Dead Sea collapsed when rain waters washed the foundations of a section of the road. It just collapsed and flowed into the Dead Sea. It's very dangerous now to travel in the desert as rain water flowing down from the cities uphill carry boulders and sand.

Well all this is little comfort when 150km away from that road, a war might be starting in Gaza.