Violent morning

1st contingent of 100s of
police enter our street

I woke up to the sound of shouts and sirens and people running down our street ... there were 2 stabbing attacks leaving 2 jews wounded seriously. The arab terrorist was killed by police. It's the last Friday of Ramadan and the police have been laxed ... I can't believe it. Somebody's head is going to roll. The terrorist was able to attack at Damascus Gate then run quite deep into the City and attacked another. How is that possible?

Anyway the City was locked down ... and all our streets were blocked. A security helicopter was flying overhead and 100s of extra police were called into the Old City. But it was too late ... they should have been here very early in the morning to oversee the massive crowds entering the Old City for the last Friday prayers at dawn. Somebody's head is going to roll for this oversight.

Closure of roads

My workers were calling me to say they cannot enter the City and so come to work. I considered closing the library this morning but some students managed to come and they have exams ... so I have to leave it open for them to study. Well one thing for sure, Im not going out today. It's not just the security or the masses of muslims in the streets ... but the fear that the jews will take revenge. And they certainly will ... if not today then tomorrow evening and definitely Sunday which is Jerusalem Day. I don't even want to imagine the violence that will take place ... as already the annual march of extremist jews conclude with beating up of arabs and destruction of their property and shops. This year the attacks will be merciless in revenge for this morning's stabbings.

I'm keeping my head down today ... work in the library and sleep in my room. Stay out of trouble.

https://www.jpost.com/Breaking-News/Stabbing-attack-at-Damascus-Gate-in-Jerusalem-591193?fbclid=IwAR3T0Tj0hOML0rUFH_4FYZz3uYEKOO0wdz1ime9cfpKmXgtfSM0d-gnbX3A

https://www.timesofisrael.com/two-hurt-one-seriously-in-stabbing-attack-in-jerusalems-old-city/

Ascension Day

St. Peter's in Jaffa

I was determined to take a day off for Ascension Day. I've been working too much and am getting burnt out. I decided to leave the 2 boys back home as well .... just needed to really be alone and chill out. 2 boys = Buddy and JJ the parakeets. They're really the best pets to have ... but I just needed to be alone today ... far far away from the chaos and tension of the City.

Ice cream at Jaffa

I left at 4.30am for Jaffa and arrived at 6am. Celebrated Mass and then had breakfast with the community. Then cleaning up the huge aquarium and sleep .... 3 solid hours. No phones, no knocks on the door, no work, no cooking and washing, no one around. I had an ice cream ... something I wanted to do for a long time. Then I went to chat with my israeli buddies Rudy and Ben who have stalls in front of St. Peter's Church. They're my great buddies.

St. Peter's Church

Because of work tomorrow ... it's the last Friday of Ramadan and thousands of muslims will converge at the Al Aqsa Mosque. Roads around the Old City will be closed and Damascus Gate will be jammed packed ... I must return home in the night. Stopped by Mandarin Restaurant to buy a pack of fried rice for dinner. And that's the end of my 12 hour holiday.

And that was Ascension Day for me. Yes we did talk about the meaning of the Ascension during lunch. It's interesting because 4 of them are Oriental Catholics and they have a different perspective to the Ascension.

Bad news ... prices of daily goods are rising. And no-one seems to realize it because everyone is worried about other things like war up north and south. All the protests from 5 years back have failed. And nothing seems to stop this rising prices. Life will be very difficult now for many people.  https://www.janglo.net/index.php?option=com_adsmanager&page=display&catid=99&tid=467473&Itemid=0&utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=facebook

Ascension Eve

Beggars at Damascus Gate

Easter comes to an end as tonight we begin Ascension eve. Everybody goes up to the Imbomon ... nowadays everyone calls it the Ascension chapel on the Mt. of Olives ... but from the earliest times it was known as the Imbomon. No one knows why ... or what the meaning is ... but it was always the starting point of all solemn processions for all feasts in Jerusalem. Somehow in the Crusader period it became the Ascension chapel. There will be solemn Vespers sung there this evening, then Vigil at midnight followed by masses every half hour till tomorrow morning when a solemn Mass is celebrated by the Custos. One thing though ... it's a holiday for me as our institutes close down on this solemnity. Now ... for a little rest ...

New elevator

Here in the Old City, tensions continue as the weekend approaches and the clash of Israeli and muslim celebrations coincide. I'm still debating whether I should move to Jaffa for the weekend. I can't take more violence in our street ... which is directly below my window. I've been stressed enough with all the elevator work in the library. We've removed the old model and are now installing an all glass Schindler elevator. It's 5 stories high and I've been running up and down with my swollen ankle, checking on the workers on each floor and also the opened emergency exit so that tourists down just walk in ... which they have done. Then of course there's work on the other library ... lots of cataloguing and payments of new books. After 2 weeks of this, I'm ready for a long rest .... which means 24 hours tomorrow.

The military clash on the Syrian and Lebanese borders have silenced ... or at least the newspapers are not reporting it. Instead all the media are reporting of another general election because the PM is not able to form a coalition govt. Well he's still got a few weeks left so anything can happen.

One piece of great news is the 3 communities of the Holy Sepulcher have agreed to renovate the pavement surrounding the Empty Tomb. Everyone is footing a part of the bill. So it's fantastic! Finally the most sacred spot of christianity will get a decent floor.

Tense morning

Another fight at Damascus Gate

Last night on my way from from work, I had to stop at Damascus Gate as usual because of the massive crowds coming out of the City. It's almost the last 10 days of Ramadan ... and the muslims commemorate the giving of the Koran to Mohammed. Even more muslims come to the Mosque during this period and especially on Laylat el Khader ... a feast which has no fixed day ... most celebrate it 3 nights before Eid el Fitri but it could be any of the 10 previous nights ... a feast when heavens open and God grants everyone's wishes and offers mercy and forgiveness of sins. Any such thought certainly did not exist last night while I waited outside Damascus Gate. 2 groups of muslims fought each other ... something we've seen every other night here. Once again the police did not get involved and after 40 mins the fight fizzled out.

We woke up to news of military tensions at the northern border. Apparently Syria shot at an israeli drone or aircraft, and Israel responded by bombing Syria. It couldn't get as dramatic as that. We waited with bated breath to see if things would escalate to a military showdown. But now in the late afternoon, nothing. And least nothing's on the news.  https://www.jpost.com/Breaking-News/Israeli-drone-brought-down-over-the-Golan-by-Syrian-anti-aircraft-missile-590824?fbclid=IwAR1NGwtUHJnNhcVwV_xC8tFhCiUZIgP-mnP_Oveu-uwk5v7Fev8qs-xk4qM

Then at the other northern border ... with Lebanon ...  clashes occurred between Lebanese rioters and Israeli soldiers.  https://www.timesofisrael.com/lebanese-rioters-clash-with-idf-along-border-fence/?fbclid=IwAR0NxXOCFl-_WKevsDy_N-2600w_5uaoksIxj4AM75c52I_Wm8HeAIy7cCM

Christ the King bookshop

Anyway despite the tension, I had to go to Bethlehem to bring rations and medicine to the MC sisters.    After delivering the donations, I paid a quick visit to the only Catholic bookshop in the West Bank ... Christ the King bookshop. It is very clean and tidy and they just opened a new section offering religious ritual vestments. Very beautiful and artistic.

The heatwave continues to oppress us. I decided not to go to work because walking 1km uphill in this heat is horrible ... and coming home, crushed by the crowds, is not what I can handle right now. So I worked at home ... which is already quite enough.

Tension

Mounted Police

It's Monday again ... very early morning class ... I slept for4 hours as I came home from visiting a huge Singapore group of pilgrims (111 pilgrims) led by 3 S'porean friars. When I got home ... walking 3kms ... and ate my dinner at 10pm, the vicar came and started talking till almost midnight. I was braindead. At 4am I had to wake up for classes. I'm amazed how much I can teach while my brain is still sleeping. It's becoming an art.

The City is tense as Ramadan nears its end and Jerusalem Day is set to clash with it on Sunday. Mounted police have been deployed all through last week and this week. More metal barricades have been placed throughout the City.

Full moon over the Last Supper Room

And the heatwave, though not as severe as last week ... has caused over 1000 fires throughout the country. Thousands of residents have been evacuated. It's also been discovered that a Christian-Jewish community was deliberately set on fire, though firemen first thought it was due to an electrical fault. Hardline rightwing israelis are pushing to expel christians ... like everywhere else in the Middle East. And the wildfires are a good opportunity to cover one's tracks. In fact a soldier has been suspended for deliberately setting an arab field on fire but was caught on camera.  https://www.timesofisrael.com/police-arrest-two-israelis-suspected-of-vandalizing-palestinian-property/?fbclid=IwAR1iLPTwHg4EgT-duGSVjSKT6Au-MMcLz8XDrwIHpc9fPzpZQky_B9DY7_A
and
https://www.timesofisrael.com/idf-suspends-soldier-allegedly-filmed-setting-palestinian-field-ablaze/?fbclid=IwAR1Fg4WZCtmVHQw0eoRWPfkq3yQwUr-FgdKbYKtGI2-xxXvNn8-9a4Cx-1Y

And in a rare case, 2 israelis have been arrested for vandalising arab property ... of course we don't expect them to be charged. https://www.timesofisrael.com/police-arrest-two-israelis-suspected-of-vandalizing-palestinian-property/?fbclid=IwAR1iLPTwHg4EgT-duGSVjSKT6Au-MMcLz8XDrwIHpc9fPzpZQky_B9DY7_A

Anyway everyone is watching this weekend ... if the tensions will deteriorate or ... as we all hope ... it'll dissipate in this heatwave.

Fight

Dinner time ... City Gate is empty

The heatwave had relented a little yesterday with temp lowered to 28 degrees thereabouts. It was still hot enough but by evening the cool winds blew ... and blew ... and became very gusty. Actually people had to wear jumpers and hoodies. I couldn't stay inside my room all day as it becomes an oven ... the stones of our house conserve the day heat and release it during the evenings so it get 5 degrees hotter indoors than outdoors. I went to sit at Damascus Gate at 8pm. It was very quiet because everyone was home eating. It was nice ... I could enjoy the cool breeze and watch the lights of the City Gate. But at 10pm the crowds began to flow out of the City Gate ... dinner was well finished and so was the last prayer in the Mosque for the day. Literally thousands crush at the narrow Gate to get out. Smartly the Israei Police have removed the barriers prohibiting people from sitting on the cavea of Damascus Gate. It was a point of conflict for the past 3 weeks ... but now all was peaceful. Families sat around the cavea, drinking, chatting, taking photos ...

Fight at 3rd Station of the Cross

Earlier yesterday morning I had forgotten I had to preach a retreat. I thought I had a day off and so went into town to do an errand. After a phone call reminding me that the sisters were waiting, I had to run 2 kms to reach them and preach. My memory is really gone ... so many times I go to a place only to forget why. It would have been less troublesome if not for my swollen left ankle. And that rush only made it worse. I've been limping for over a month now. Climbing stairs ... or any bending of the ankle is excruciating. But the docs say there's nothing they can do because I didn't seek medical help when I first twisted it 8 yrs ago. Now I have to bind it in a bandage to keep the joint stable.

Meantime in Tel Aviv there was a massive protest against the PM who is going to introduce a law protecting him from investigation and impeachment for corruption. Deja vu? aka the PM's best friend the american president. The introduction of such a law would kill democracy and effectively start a dictatorship not unlike those surrounding us.  https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/thousands-of-israelis-protest-against-netanyahu-s-immunity-bills-1.7284012?fbclid=IwAR137mEfZ8U-_DEROrubOznyrPxDWLHwXNvI5i6_lax0hQLKMuU57JzBs_o

Casualty

And there was a huge fight at the 3rd Station of the Cross yesterday evening. Arabs fighting arabs ... a guy in front of our house was having an affair with the wife of our neighbour behind our house. They brought it out at the crossroads and families and friends got involved ... it became a clan clash. Then the Israeli Police intervened and that sparked a backlash ... with both arab clans attacking the police. After the chaos and blood ... and arrests ... things calmed down. Nearby restaurant chairs and tables were damaged. But at the end of the day ... nothing extraordinary ... it's after all Ramadan. We're now waiting for a revenge attack.

30 degrees

Empty Municipality Square in the heat

Last night was 30 degrees .... it's like sleeping in an oven. And the forecast is that worse is yet to come. Massive wild fires are raging throughout the country and in 24 hours is so out of control, Israel has asked neighbouring countries for help. 4 countries have responded and are now fighting the fires with Israeli crew. Notably Egypt has sent a large team ... and Palestine has also offered aid. Cyprus, Italy, Greece and Croatia are also on the way. It's unfortunate that it takes a crisis and disaster to unite peoples. Then again it shows that people still have a conscience.

30 degree night in Jerusalem

Going home from work last night was awful. There was no wind and the weather was stifling ... like a  cushion of stake hot air crushing on us from above. I could only walk 500 meters and needed to rest. Also my left ankle was hurting. At Damascus Gate there were thousands exiting and there was no way I could enter. So I sat under an olive tree and waited till 11pm when the crowd thinned out. I pity the muslims who are fasting ... the heat must really be an added penance. One thing though ... cold drink vendors are making a lot of money.

It's not just the heatwave that's suffocating us. Secular and traditional jews are feeling extra pressure now that the small ultra-orthodox minority has taken power in all sectors of life and is imposing its will on others. The secular jews have taken a beating ... being treating worse than non-jews by these ultra-orthodox.  https://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-5514109,00.html

We received worrying news that the war in Syria in the region of Idlib is spreading to the village of Latakia where we have a parish and all the residents are christians. We can only pray that nothing bad happens. God protect them.

Heatwave 2

Crowd beginning to come out of
Damascus Gate

The heatwave hit us hard last night. 27 degrees. And today it is 37 degrees. Some places in the country reached over 40. The wind is harsh and hot and stifling. And wildfires have broken out in several spots throughout the country. Residents have to be evacuated. And this looks like it will last for a couple of weeks so the forest fires might spread. Of course most people say it's summer after all so it should be hot, but this year the heatwave came early. We didn't have Spring. It was barely a few days ... and winter kept creeping back. Anyway what we hope is that it will not evaporate our water sources and we end off in a drought crisis again.   https://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-5514143,00.html?fbclid=IwAR2e4pbuS9kQN9mJmdxOXkM2gvKFvbQiRm1KVRX_d7E5Tag4oTBlKnh026M

Last night I finished work at about 9pm and walked home, knowing that it would be impossible to enter Damascus Gate or Herod's Gate as the muslim crowd would have just finished breaking the fast and coming out to relax before the final night prayers in the mosque. So I sat outside the Gate like hundreds of other muslims, watching the lights and the passing crowds. It was only after 11pm that the Gates were less crowded and people could enter. I decided to enter from Herod's Gate as it usually has less traffic than Damascus Gate. Hawkers were plying their goods and food ... and most shoppers are out-of-towners.

Herod's Gate in the day

I remember when Ramadan nights were alot more festive, with people smoking nargileh on the steps of the cavea of Damascus Gate' hawkers selling their food along the stairs and in the park beside it. Now only people sit around there ... ready to be shooed away by the police. The barriers blocking the seats of the cavea have been removed and this has reduced alot of tension. But only young boys carry trays of fruit juice and XL, selling to passersby. The economy is bad so most families are unable to buy anything much. In the mornings I see many muslim women lining up at muslim and christian welfare offices, waiting for a handout so they can cook a little more food for dinner to break the Ramadan fast.

Anyway I've been checking the calendar and am getting worried for next week. On May 30th night is Christian Pentecost. On May 31st night is Laylat el Qadr which the muslims will spend the entire night praying in the mosques. On June 1st and 2nd the Israelis will celebrate Jerusalem Day ... a very sensitive day as extremist jewish groups attack non-jews and destroy property. June 4th night is the end of Ramadan and June 5th is Eid el Fitr. On June 8th begins the jewish Pentecost. The juggling of these celebrations between the 2 communities is going to be very delicate and we all expect violent clashes. The poor police will have a hard time.

Heatwave

Full moon over the City

What happened to my posts??? My blog must be hacked as posts from the past 2 days are gone!! Well I know all my social media have all been and still are hacked but never had my posts removed.

Well anyway the days are passing so quickly and work consumes every minute. That means from 4am to 10pm ... the sisters and the guys in the house are getting worried that I'm heading for collapse. Well I feel like it but still I must push on .. it's the end of the end, the exams are on, the elevator in the library is still being installed, strangers breaching our private zone and entering our monastery, magazines need to be bound, the digitalization project is running behind time .... I had to run a couple of errands in Bethlehem yesterday. It sounds so normal ... but I guess for many of you, Bethlehem is just a name in the Bible and it sounds strange that people go to Bethlehem to run errands and shop etc.

Ramadan night
bazaar

Anyway the Ramadan season is almost over. This is the last week. Festivities in the night get more rowdy, fireworks are fired and at 3am the wakers walk through the Muslim Quarter banging their drums are calling people to eat before the fast begins at sunrise. And the full moon is out ... marvelous sight on a clear summer sky.

A heatwave is hitting us hard ... 40 degrees. It'll be around for the next few days if not weeks. Elderly and young are warned not to go out. And rightly so. And things will get worse ... so say the meteorologists. I have to walk to work and it's really hard in this heat. I'll have to drink lots of water. The nights are impossible to sleep because of the heat.  https://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-5513342,00.html?fbclid=IwAR3MiWUTZ6HpYNOvXRIPTTZ9MjolzpKh6wFoGn4uVXfHqnv4ff88hSS5Avw

The killing of christians in Burkino Faso by muslims is getting out of hand. 2 salesian priests have been beheaded and many lay people killed. Still no major powers are intervening. All these political correctness has embolden the muslim extremists to exterminate christians ... and christians are too scared by political incorrectness and misconstrued "ecumenical dialogue" to dare speak out. My community had a meeting over this false premise and compromise of "ecumenical dialogue" and intend to make our views known to our Order. It's killing christians all over the world. It's the worst persecution ever in christian history because it's concerted and international.

Contest over

Breaking the fast at Palm Plaza

The Eurovision Song contest is finally over ... last night ... well almost midnight. I wasn't the least interested ... not just because it's got no quality but it just reeks of occidental colonialism. Mind you that's pretty charitable if you compare with what some other guys here say ... they insist it's a diabolic satanic event. And of course there was no shortage of political baggage as well with lots of protestors in Tel Aviv calling for boycotts and sanctions against Israel. Well my objections are not along those lines, least of all against Israel. My bone to pick is the event itself. It's an all white event.

Coptic Bishop presides at Mass in
the Holy Sepulchre

It's Sunday ... I slept through the night because I wasn't ready for another night of arab fights and police blockades. Missed dinner but woke up at midnight feeling hungry ... so I ate a piece of fruit. The nights are now so hot ... about 20 degrees ... it's difficult to sleep. And of course the Ramadan feasting in the streets till 3am doesn't help. Today I had the armenian Mass at the 3rd Station. 5 seminarians from the Whote Fathers came to help and one armenian franciscan as well. The liturgy went on very well. I also got the chance to see the new Coptic Orthodox bishop presiding at the liturgy in the Holy Sepulchre. The liturgical organisation is now much more orderly ... the bishop has introduced some changes which are good and profitable to the people.

Meanwhile tensions continue to rise as we read that the High Court has permitted extremist jewish groups to pass through the Muslim Quarter on Jerusalem Day. For sure there will be violence as these groups every year vandalise our property and attack non-jewish residents. Not sure if the police will protect us if they can ... facing the massive throng.

Feast day

Founders of Maria Bambina sisters

Well apparently the fight last night at Damascus Gate spilled over to Lions' Gate 500 meters east of the City. It's always a tit-for-tat. Tonight I've stayed home ... avoiding more possible drama. But on a larger scale, Syria is accusing Israel of firing missiles into Damascus for the 2nd night .... now this is worrying. A regional war might spark if nothing is negotiated.

Today our sisters celebrate their congregation's feast day of their founders. I missed it as I had Mass outside our community. Our sisters' congregation is commonly known as Maria Bambina sisters. It was founded by a lay woman who dies in her early 20s and the congregation almost collapsed if not for her first follower who re-organaised and consolidated  the new congregation. Both were canonised together.

Making hamburgers

Our sisters made hamburgers to celebrate their feast day. I wasn't home for lunch so I don't know how it went. I had to rush a quick branch in order to go to work. That's my usual routine now ... work early morning, brunch, then work at the other office. And brunch is usually leftovers ... in fact always leftovers. And after brunch, my next meal if I do have one would be at 11pm or so when I come home from work.

Another week has ended ... we're almost into midyear. Exams have begun in almost all schools and summer holidays will soon start. That would be a great relief.

Fight

Big fight

It's almost midnight and I've just reached home. I was stuck outside Damascus Gate for over an hour ... the crowd coming out was so massive it was impossible to enter the City. Which was just as well because there was a big fight outside Damascus Gate ... between arab youths. It was quite violent but the Israeli police stood by and did nothing as it did not involve them. It went on for an hour and I am sure it's still going on. Youths ran from one side of the street ... they break up ... then call for more supporters to come and clash again ... happened 4 times while I was out there. Pretty normal for many people ... they just sat by the road and ate their meal watching the whole event as if entertainment. I think the only unhappy people were the drivers of cars and trucks stuck in the middle of the road while the youths ran around, blocking the road, fighting and throwing bottles.

Big fight

Well it was very very cold and I only had a T-shirt on, so I decided to take the long walk down to Herod's Gate to get home. It was a lot quieter there and less congested.

This morning I had Mass on Mt. Calvary. The rest of the chinese religious came along. It was to pray for the souls of the fathers of Sr. Zhang and Fr. Abraham who died recently, also for my Aunt and for a good friend Man Lai Wah, and my sifu Frances Ma. And of course I prayed for all of you. The rest of the day was filled with work and confessions and conferences.

Jerusalem Day is next week and jewish attacks on arabs have stepped up. Here's one such occurrence https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/.premium-palestinian-teen-hospitalized-in-east-jerusalem-after-being-attacked-by-jews-1.7250612?fbclid=IwAR0MWH4Uguwr3IGi_IMEgmXo-Ha2a4Oobckmno__JJUu3QRtvHm-84EAxT8

Balagan coca cola

Collector's item

Yesterday there was relative peace in Jerusalem. A few small squirmishes but nothing significant. But in Gaza and the other Palestinian cities and borders there were huge marches, demonstrations and retaliations by Israeli soldiers. I stayed at Damascus Gate waiting for some action ... but at 9.30pm there was nothing and I was feeling tired after a full day's work so I went home to sleep. 

Today life goes on as usual. Businesses were down to a minimum in our neighborhood because it's Ramadan and because the muslims fast (and the weather is very hot), most do not open their shops till evening. Several evenings back when I was going home after 9.30pm I was very hungry and decided to buy some chicken pieces at Arab Fried Chicken. Surprise!! They served the collector's version of Coca Cola to celebrate Eurovision. It's tall and golden with a hebrew word en face. The word is meant to teach foreigners a hebrew word and its meaning. My word was "balagan" which means chaos. Many people were jealous that I got a can of this collector's item Coca Cola and everyone is asking me where they can get one too.

Gnocchi & chicken

This morning was a wild goose chase again ... going up to the office early only to be told when I arrived that it's cancelled. Rushed back home to supervise the elevator work then after an hour rushed back up to the other office. I had class there as well as work. And I was very hungry. I went to our little grocery to buy some biscuits for lunch when the friar in charge of the kitchen saw me and told me to get some food from the kitchen instead. So I happily had some gnocchi and chicken for lunch instead of spending money on biscuits.

Yesterday there was an earthquake in our area. Neighbouring countries also felt it. There are at least 4 minor earthquakes in our region each year ... but these have become stronger and more frequent in past few years. And we're long overdue for the massive one which occurs every 80 odd years.

Tensions

Beggars & peddlers at
Damascus Gate

Today is Nakba Day. No major incidents in Jerusalem but there were massive demonstrations at the Gaza border and other palestinian border areas and cities. Many were wounded in clashes with Israeli police. I think tonight here in Jerusalem something will happen. That's my journalist instinct kicking in ... I'll be out there to watch. Dangerous ... perhaps a little when crowds stampede and police start shooting stun grenades and tear gas. But its definitely not as dangerous as Jerusalem Day when extremist zionist jews flood down to East Jerusalem to beat up arabs and burn their property ... and that'll be on June 1-2. Security helicopters have been circling us in the early mornings ... I guess it was preventive. Anyway the crowds are big and Israel has taken the risk of letting everyone enter the Old City and the Al Aqsa Mosque. However on June 1-2 the police will close the mosque to israelis who celebrate Jerusalem Day ... as it is too sensitive and violence will definitely erupt. This whole week is so full of tensions ... it's too much to take in. I need a break and get out of this City. However Tel Aviv is not an alternative because of the Eurovision Song contest. It's packed with people ... some to get entertained ... but many also there to protest and call for boycotts. It's so full of tension as well.
https://www.timesofisrael.com/thousands-of-palestinians-mark-nakba-with-gaza-protests-west-bank-marches/

My 1st passion flower

The weather has been awfully hot ... 30 degrees today. There's still a bit of hamsin in the air and many people are coughing and wheezing and I have small attacks of asthma. It's summer. Students are preparing for exams and the school year should end in a couple of weeks. Then it's the summer vacation for 2 months ... and working parents try to put their children into summer camps so the kids are not locked up at home. Unfortunately not all can afford the cost of a summer camp so many kids will be left drifting in the streets for 2 months.

I've decided to stay home today to avoid any clashes and the heat. And I had alot to do as the workers had come to install the new elevator and put the glass panels in place. Yes I've opted for a glass elevator so anyone stuck inside can be seen immediately. We had some very bad experiences with our old elevator. This time I'm not taking any chances.

Well yes it's hot but it's good for the summer plants. My first Passion flower blossomed this morning. I'm hoping to reap some fruit in autumn.

Twisted ankle

2 groups making the Way of the Cross,
another group already reached
3rd Station

Another crazy day starting at 4am ... You can't believe how many groups are making the Way of the Cross at that hour ... 8 groups this morning. Everyone wants to avoid the Ramadan crowds and vendor hassling and street blockades. The sun is up by then and the muslims are already praying the sunrise prayers. In a way it's good the christian groups started early ... it lightens the congestion on our street in the day when more christian groups and muslim pilgrims share the same road.

Last night I went to a muslim wake. One of our neighbours died. Only 40 yrs old. I paid my condolences to the family and had a cup of coffee. Dates were offered but I didn't eat any. There was small talk among the men who came and after 10 mins I left as I had a meeting at 9.30pm. After the meeting I was back at Damascus Gate and drama unfolded. Because the cavea of Damascus Gate was blocked off to prevent people from sitting, arab youths were unhappy and began toppling the metal barriers. Israeli police fired stun grenades into the crowd which rushed upwards to the main road. I was almost knocked over as the youths pushed their way out.

Plumes of tear gas last night

Later they obstructed traffic along the main road, and mounted police came to disperse them. More stun grenades and tear gas were fired ... and this cat-and-mouse game went on for half and hour. Looks like next week's Jerusalem Day and end of Ramadan feasts will be very explosive.

It was back to work today ... but it was so crazy I don't even want to talk about it. Suffice to mention the first event of rushing off to apply visas for our sisters, then rushing back to supervise the installation of a new elevator in the library ... and the workers never showed up. In the rush uphill and downhill 1km apart, I stumbled on a pothole and twisted my ankle .. the left one which was already injured. It was excruciating. Now all I need most is to rest ... and put some balm on the ankle.

New week

Group making Way of Cross
at 4.30am

Yesterday was a replay of Saturday ... I had to prepare and open the chapel at 4.30am for a visiting group making the Way of the Cross. That makes sleeping 3 hours a day for the past 2 days. It's exhausting. Today I slept for 2 hours n the afternoon to catch up because I was practically braindead. Anyway lots of groups are coming early to make the Way of the Cross ... that avoids the crush of crowds, the castle of vendors, the harassment of jews and muslims. This morning there were 3 groups that started the Way of the Cross at 4.30am. It was unbelievable but people prefer the serenity of praying than sleeping in.

10 deacons ordained today

At 9am I had the Armenian Mass but my armenian servers were all away attending an ordination Mass. Luckily I managed to contact 3 Africa Missionary seminarians to help me. Managed to pull through the liturgy and gave a nice sermon which the congregation appreciated. Must improve my armenian so I can preach in that language. It is a very difficult language ... morphologically and grammatically. But at least I'm able to read most of it. That's a long way.

And yes there was this diaconal ordination Mass at our parish church. 10 franciscan seminarians ordained deacons. We already have 15 right now ... so today we have 25 deacons in our Holy Land Custody. That is a lot! We have a boom in vocations this year ... with some 80 seminarians. There's not enough rooms in the seminary so it's divided into 2 campuses in Jerusalem and Ein Kerem, and a smaller community at the Last Supper Room. A few others are sent to various sanctuaries for a year of apostolate experience or learning foreign languages.

Flores de Maio

Flores de Maio procession

Yesterday was a super busy day ... and my poor memory wasn't helping much. Got up at 3am to prepare the church for a group coming to make the Way of the Cross around 4.30am. Waited and waited and contacted the group ... only to be told it's on Sunday and not Saturday. By then it was too late to go back to bed ... having slept only 4 hours. I then had to rush off to the Holy Sepulchre for Mass then immediately after there was class and a meeting and then home. I had to prepare a sermon and an address in another city near Tel Aviv.

Partial lockdown of Damascus Gate

Problem was I couldn't find my passport in my room. Rushed up 1km to my office to find it and still failed. Rushed back home to search again ... and found it inside an envelope I placed a week ago. Anyway my left ankle was swollen from the 3 km rush up and down the hill ... but I could finally get to the other city on time for the Flores de Maio procession and Mass. That's a typical filipino feast of Mary in May ... women dress up as Mary in her different titles and one is crowned May Queen of the year. After the procession there was Mass which I presided and preached ... and then a programme of singing and crowning of the statue ... and a huge dinner after that. The filipino Consul General and the Cultural Attache were also there and delivered speeches before I did.

Last night in the Al Aqsa Mosque there were squirmishes between muslims and Israeli police ... and tear gas were fired. I could hear it from my room when I got back from the Mass at 11.30pm. It was already obvious something was up when I walked down Damascus Gate when I saw the plaza locked down by police except 2 staircases for entering and exiting.

I guess tensions will get worse in the next few days as Nakba Day is on Thursday and the Eurovision contest gets underway. I don't even want to think about it.

1st Friday

Packed streets today

I really didn't want to go out this morning. It's the 1st Friday of Ramadan and the crowds entering the City will be enormous .... but as luck would have it, I had a meeting in the western side of town. So I had to go out. It was swimming against the current ... with literally thousands of muslims coming down El Wad street and I was going in the opposite direction. Just 100 meters from my house, I got stuck. There was simply no way to go forward or back. After moving a one meter ahead after many minutes, I noticed a side street and quickly forced my way through. Once in the side street, I could get up to New Gate area and out of the City because hardly anyone uses these alleys. The crowds are all from outside Jerusalem and don't know these alleys at all. Anyway it was traumatic. And coming home was just as bad. Now I just don't want to go out at all.

Empty side-street

Apparently yesterday's Independence Day celebrations were a knock-out in many major cities. There're lots of photos of the fly-by on the internet. At the same time, palestinians held protest marches in several abandoned villages ... at the creation of the modern State of Israel, these arab villages were demolished and the arab population dispersed as refugees to many parts of the region. These protests will continue in other parts of the country till May 15th which is Nakba Day or Catastrophe Day when palestinians commemorate the lost of their lands to the Israelis when the State was established. This year I was told it could get violent.   https://www.timesofisrael.com/israeli-arabs-mark-palestinian-catastrophe-of-1948-in-annual-march/

Crowds and police blocks

And next week there'll be the infamous Eurovision Song Contest ... a really laughable event of wannabes and really awful songs. Since Israel won last year, it will host this year's contest in Tel Aviv. That means super tight security in Tel Aviv area. Well all in all these 3 weeks was,is and will be packed with so many politically sensitive/explosive events ... it's simply too much to handle. I'd just like to hibernate through all this and wake up when it' all over.

Feast and fun

Making qattayef pancakes

It's the first time in many years that I missed the Independence  (HaAtzmaut in hebrew) celebrations. And I'm quite sore about that. Usually I'd take a day off and go to our Jaffa house by the sea where I can see the airforce flypass at noon. They fly directly over our house as its a landmark which directs aircraft to turn east into Jerusalem. There would be thousands of Israelis by the beach watching and swimming ... and doing the mandatory Independence thing = barbecue. There would be barbecues on every balcony, roof terrace, park, garden, street corner ... any available space. Israel has hired extra municipality cleaners to sweep up all public places. It's all very festive but don't be fooled. Security forces are everywhere ... in uniform and in civies. In the Old City there are border police every few meters. Stop-and-check continue with youths entering or leaving the City but it is less obnoxious and humiliating ... after all it's Ramadan for the muslim arabs.

Cooling the pancakes

Well yes the muslim arabs are celebrating as well ... not for the same reason as the Israelis. It's going to be the 1st Friday of Ramadan and usually it's a big deal. There's a tension in the air but no one wants a riot that'll spoil the festivities. Keep the status quo ... and let the celebrations go on without incident. That's everyone's hope.

The other day I saw shops making qattayef pancakes and I bought 1 kg of it as I usually do during Ramadan. Instead of traditional qattayef which is wrapped with cheese or walnuts, the pancakes are sold alone and you can put nutella, jam, honey ... anything ... and that's what we enjoy. I and the kitchen staff ate some and left the rest of the kilo on the refectory table ... and within one hour everything was wiped clean. They loved it. I think I'll buy some more next week as a treat.

And so ... it's Independence Day and I missed all the fun and concerts in the streets ... I had a meeting then class then another meeting ... that means from 1pm to 10pm. I missed HaAztmaut this year ... like what happened????

Assorted nuns

Ramadan lights in
a side street

It's Remembrance Day today ... the eve of Independence Day ... before Israelis celebrate their free independent State they remember those who fought to achieve it. Very touching. Sirens were sounded in the morning and the country stood still for 2 minutes in respect. At least that happened in West Jerusalem and the rest of Israel. In East Jerusalem and the West Bank, the muslim majority was fasting ... most shops were closed and only essential offices were opened. Israel's independence meant palestinians losing their land. Its the other side of the coin. I've heard that this Friday will be tense as it's the 1st Friday of Ramadan and the day after Israel's Independence Day ... some people are saying there might be clashes. I don't look forward to that.

Anyway the strange weather is into the 3rd day ... hot and sunny during the day but freezing cold in the nights. Almost everyone I know is sick to some degree. The hamsin continues to blow and people are coughing and rubbing their eyes. Asthmatics like me suffer the most. I've had attacks after attacks each time I walk out of the door. The desert dust is very fine and causes a lot of health problems.

Assorted cloistered nuns

This afternoon many cloistered nuns from all the monasteries in the Holy Land came to our Curia for a conference. It was a rare occasion when these enclosed nuns come out and meet as a group. There were Benedictines of various traditions, Poor Clares, Carmelites, eastern rite nuns ... The Carmelites from Nazareth came also and I met them as they were about to leave the conference in the evening. It was the first time I've seen them outside the grill of the monastery parlour.

Fireworks had just be fired ... Independence Day celebrations have begun. Wish I could go to Tel Aviv and watch the fly past ... but I have work.

Another hamsin

Hamsin in the night

The ceasefire between Gaza and Israel seems to be holding up. All is quiet at the southern border. Checkpoints have reopened and one MC sister who was stuck in Jerusalem could go back to Gaza this morning. It's a game both sides hope to benefit politically ... but the israelis living at the Gaza border are furious ... as are opposition politicians. They say that Israel was getting the upper hand and should have gone through with the mission to destroy the terrorists totally instead of giving in to them. Truth is both sides need each other ... Netanyahu needs Hamas to scare the people into keeping him in power and Hamas needs Netanyahu for the same reason. It's symbiotic.

Roses at the MC
convent

The weather continues to be very hot in the day but chilly in the night. I decided to go to work later in the evening to avoid the heat ... and Ramadan crowds. However a hamsin blew right in ... harsh, hot and dry. I had at least 4 asthma attacks. It was terrible. I felt safe to go home only at 11pm when the hamsin had reduced significantly. Once home, I discovered the sisters left a box of veggie curry in the fridge for me. That was perfect ... something spicy and hot to clear my lungs. Then it was a very short sleep of 4 hours because I had to meet a group at the Holy Sepulcher early in the morning. Then it's another day of work ... and the hamsin came right back.  

I noticed that the hamsin has burnt the leaves of many plants and flowers have withered. No amount of watering will revive them ... only lots of spraying which I can't do. We're expecting a drought this summer and we cannot waste water. I noticed the 5 rose bushes which I gave the MC sisters to be flowering profusely with large blooms ... but all were wilting in the hamsin heat.

This evening the sirens will sound at 8pm to commemorate the soldiers killed in the past 71 years of Israel's history. All eating houses and places of entertainment are closed for the whole night till tomorrow evening. Then a wild party will break out at sunset throughout the country .... because Independence Day begins.

Fest, feast and fast

Palm Plaza with mounted police

So Ramadan began last night when the canon blasted 7 times. The streets suddenly become empty and quiet .... every muslim has returned home to eat. An hour later the crowds come back out into the streets. Damascus Gate plaza was quite busy with people but we expect bigger crowds these few evenings leading to the first Friday of Ramadan which is one of the busiest evenings of the season. I understand the Municipality has organised many events to celebrate Ramadan for the local muslims. Well this inclusive distribution of public funds for the arab population is very welcome and a change in policy. The priority of this project is to spend 1 million shekels in extra garbage removers as the amount of garbage triples during Ramadan. Unfortunately a lot of food is wasted and any good organiser could easily collect tonnes of uneaten food and distribute them to the poor.  https://www.janglo.net/index.php?option=com_adsmanager&page=display&catid=99&tid=465955&fbclid=IwAR3aV7DJ952szAM7oEfCFCtcQ8j5DGtweYCmnm_mPDsppwVGnEJUZixKbQE

Damascus Gate

Despite the festive mood, stepped-up police presence remind us that not everything is well. Mounted Police patrol the open spaces and roads along the City Walls while Border Police are at everything 10 meters in major streets. Stop-and-search continue though not as numerous because the crowds from all over country are simply too big to check. Anyway the muslims are fasting so it's not good for the police to take advantage while the former are weak. There is always fear of a riot breaking out and there're several reasons including the disputed Mercy Gate hall which the jews want to convert into a synagogue and the muslims want it to be a mosque ... the disputed ancient hall is inside the Al Aqsa compound.

What is worrying the violence at the southern border with Gaza. After 700 missiles were fired into Israel killing a few people (4 isrealis and 24 Gazans) and destroying property and sending thousands of residents hiding in bunkers, there now is news of a ceasefire. It's a well-worn formula ... things will turn around again and missiles will be exchanged. Let's see how long it'll last.

Meantime today was the hottest day yet this year ... 34 degrees at noon. I hear Eilat and the Dead Sea is above 40 degrees ... that's almost like being in August. If this continues, a drought and disastrous summer is awaiting us. I actually have to use the electric fan these past 2 days ... and drank several litres of water.

Violent Sunday

Carrot cake for
lunch

Over 430 missiles were fired into Israel from Gaza today ... and Israel bombarded Gaza in response ... resulting in deaths and injuries on both sides. Things have escalated very quickly in 24 hrs. No one knows how long it will last ... some say once Ramadan begins tonight it'll end ... others say after Israel's Independence Day on Thursday. Well one missile had already landed in Beer Sheva destroying a railway line ... and Gaza's rockets are now capable of penetrating Tel Aviv and Jerusalem. It's very worrying.

In this tense situation, with lots of police in and around the Old City, I went to celebrate the Armenian Mass at 9am. A couple of my students came to help. After that I had to rush off to the market to buy ingredients to cok Pad Kra Pao for our community at the Last Supper Room. My former student staying there will be ordained deacon next week and he invited me over for lunch ... provided I cook something asian. It's always great to go there ... a very small community of 6 friars. My student had cooked an appetiser and a carrot cake for dessert. It was delicious! I cooked the Pad Kra Pao but there was no basil in the market so I used mint instead. They didn't know the difference. Next week I'll come back for lunch but my student will be a deacon then.  

Roses in the garden

Tomorrow our library at the Curia will be closed because Israel's President is coming for a visit. Strict security dictates that all offices surrounding the courtyard where he will arrive must be cleared. Good for me. Hope I can sleep late. Maybe I can do some gardening if it's not too hot. The roses are blooming amazingly ... huge blossoms which we cut and place in our refectory.

Right now the canon has fired 7 shots ... that means Ramadan has begun.

Same roses in our refectory