Tense but peaceful

Packed streets today

Despite the violent stabbing attack yesterday, the Last Friday of Ramadan passed off peacefully. It was the wise move of the Isreali police not to impose a closure or restriction to permit only muslims 50 yrs above to enter the Old City. By allowing the crowds to continue entering and praying without hindrance, the police averted riots and demonstrations and possibly more violence. This was something I was convinced the past decade when police enforced collective punishment and preventive restrictions after each attack. Well done, police!

Last night was Laylat el Khader ... which commemorates God giving the Koran to Mohammed. But it also celebrates the opening of heaven and God granting pardon for sins and granting all prayers. At least 300,000 muslims from around the country and world gathered in and around the Al Aqsa Mosque throughout the night ... to partly pray but more to celebrate the feast. Shops opened all night till this morning ... making brisk business. And the streets continued to be packed with crowds all morning to noon. Unbelievable.  https://www.timesofisrael.com/260000-muslims-pray-peacefully-at-al-aqsa-mosque-after-terror-attack/?fbclid=IwAR2ncsY7PJwzi4P7JiyKpH4Yl2bjNrY72Zh2MhpWsVqmoPuLgnu4650ZhJs

Waiting for oral exam

What is scaring us is tonight, when the Sabbath is over and Jerusalem Day begins and extremist jews will march into the Muslim Quarter and East Jerusalem by the thousands ... literally thousands. We all believe they will wreck revenge on the arab quarter and property because of the 2 stabbings yesterday. We're staying home for the next 36 hours to avoid being collateral casualties.

Well the checkpoint and road blocks and huge crowds are no barriers for our students as they fought their way to school this morning ... they have exams. Good luck!