St. John feastday

New Gate with minimal decorations

The promised rain has come. Very strong winds, very cold and rain. Indoors it doesn't seem so apparent but the strong wind blows through the cracks under the door nd you can feel the cold air blasting across the room. I am definitely staying indoors today as my bronchitis is not yet over. I managed to get a better night's sleep last night but with the falling temp. I was kept awake by the cold.

New Gate is decorated with minimal Christmas lights as ultra-orthodox jews complain to the police every year about christian idolatry ... meaning the Christmas Tree and the Crib scene. For the past years they have called the police to tear down our decorations ... and the Mayor who needs the orthodox votes, complied and tore down all our Christmas stuff. So much for tolerance and Israel as the only island of protection for christians in the Middle East. The power of the ultra-orthodox jews is way out of proportion but they grip the govt. with fear and eternal damnation, so even the police and army and govt. bow to this minority.

Tree and Crib at Bethlehem

We're enjoying more freedom in Palestine with the muslims. All the villages and towns with christian presence are allowed to put up a Christmas Tree. Even Gaza, after 10 years of probation, has this year put up an enormous Tree in the City Square and permitted open celebration of Christmas. Of course we all know it's part of Hamas' political stunt to get european support and sympathy. After all all it's tunnels have been blown up and majority of its arab benefactor countries are now supporting Israel instead.

Just as Israel suffers from the implosion by infighting between the ultra-orthodox and the rest of judaism; Palestine suffers from implosion too ... by the unscrupulous moneymakers and the rest of the poor. Yesterday a group of palestinians were sold a tour package to the Israeli Red Sea resort city of Eilat. All duped by the arab agency because they do not have permits to leave Palestine and enter Israel. The organiser, driver and guide were arrested and the poor blokes who thought they paid for a holiday are all back home a lot less richer.  https://www.timesofisrael.com/bus-full-of-permit-less-palestinians-stopped-en-route-to-eilat-vacation/

Israel's bombardment of Syrian/Iranian military bases is still causing a lot of concern locally because no one here wants a war. Trump this morning said that he gives Israel $4.2 billion and much more each year so "Israel can take care of itself" and doesn't need American military help in Syria. Politicians and the Media are accusing the PM for relying too much on Trump ... and now Trump has turned his back on Israel. Hazardous relationship with this US president.