Corona in Bethlehem

Empty Damascus Gate

Catastrophe!!! This afternoon news broke that the 1st 4 cases of coronavirus have been confirmed in Bethlehem. The Palestinian Authorities took immediately steps to close the borders, banning all foreigners from entering the West Bank, all Bethlehem hotels must stop accepting foreign tourists ... and most importantly all religious places of worship are closed for 14 days. That means the Basilica of the Nativity will be closed to the public. It is very drastic and has surprised everyone. Then again we all expected the virus to affect Bethlehem ... a major tourist site that draws millions from all over the world. It was only a question of time. Even the arab bus company that brings people from Jerusalem to Bethlehem have been issuing notices not to let asians board the buses. We're keeping a close eye on the development in Bethlehem.

Municipality Square ... empty

Meantime Israel has banned visitors from Germany, France, Spain, Austria and Switzerland from entering the country. As more and more groups are being turned away, hotels and restaurants are hurting. The Passover feast will be very low key and foreign jews will not be able to come and celebrate. And Purim next week should be very festive in the streets. However Israel has banned crowd events. But it's not very effective because no one seems to pay any attention to self-quarantine ... students, basketball teams, synagogue congregations still go ahead with their planned gatherings. That's scary when means to control the spread is ignored .... it's an epidemic waiting round the corner.  Tourists groups to Israel have trickled and in the evenings, you can feel the silent tension when iconic spots like Damascus Gate are empty of people.

Meantime Israel bombed Syria along the northern border and the syrians responded. Definitely not a good time to start a war when internally the virus is chewing away the structural fabric of Israeli and Palestinian society. Citizens from both areas are badly divided on how to deal with the virus ... and disunity is not a good foundation for a fight.

Iran while battling major coronavirus contagion, is now faced with floods in some regions and a plague of locusts in other regions. It is biblically epic.