Shabbat violence

Hundreds of ultra-orthodox Jews have demonstrated violently during the Sabbath. They want to close off roads to stop cars being driven. http://www.haaretz.com/news/national/800-ultra-orthodox-protesters-attempt-to-block-jerusalem-road-1.373579  Trash dumps burnt in the streets, stones thrown ... slowly they will take over Jerusalem and turn it into an ultra-conservative city. More and more young people are leaving Jerusalem because they cannot accept the growing radicalisation of the city.

And talking about burning trash, arabs are complaining that trash burning is causing too much pollution. Well that's what happens when Israeli hygiene service is not employed in arab villages. With tonnes of trash collecting in empty fields and roadsides, they start burning it to get rid of the flies and rats and stink. We can smell the burning garbage even from inside the City.

Weatherwise it is so hot and the sun scorching. In Tel Aviv, the Sabbath was spent enjoying the surf and turf with lots of families barbecuing by the beach. Just the opposite of the riots in Jerusalem on the very same day. The extreme ends of a pendulum between two cities 90 kms apart.

Feast of O.L. of Mt. Carmel

An ancient ruin was discovered 30 kms out of Jerusalem and its archaeologist is touting it as the biblical City of David. http://edition.cnn.com/2011/WORLD/meast/07/14/israel.cityofdavid.archeology/  Well, it's like 30 kms out of Jerusalem ... and Jerusalem is always known as the City of David (and Bethlehem). Big geographical difference. If Prof. Garfinkel is right ... then Israelis should be moving out of Jerusalem and building houses in the Elah Valley where their prestigious ancestor built this newly excavated city. And Jerusalem should no longer be the eternal and undivided capital of Israel but Khirbet Qeiyafa instead. The political consequence is heavy. I wonder if Prof. Garfinkel ever thought of that before claiming his discovery to be the biblical "City of David".

A couple of the pro-Palestinian activists who staged a massive "fly-in" but got blocked, managed to remain in Israel. They're Aussies and nicknamed the "Grannies for Gaza". http://www.jpost.com/Features/InThespotlight/Article.aspx?id=229569  Meanwhile a night attack by Israel into Gaza has wounded one Gazan extremist. And all talk is now on Syria - why the West is not doing to Syria what it's doing in Libya. Well for one, the christians there are terrified that under a new regime, which will definitely be extremist muslim, the churches will suffer unthinkable persecution. Same goes for Jordan. Under the present regime, the churches are protected, just as they were in Iraq under Saddam.

By the way, the websites of these regional upheavel news are blocked ... I can't enter them from here.

Today is the big feast of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel. The carmelites have it all together. And Mt. Carmel is as usual magnificent up on the promontory overlooking the Mediterranean sea. The image of beauty, power and protection cannot be missed. Let's pray that O.L. of Mt. Carmel will protect us all from violence and degenerating law and order in our region.

More tensions

A huge crowd demonstrated today at Jaffa Gate all the way to Sheikh Jarrah in support for Palestinian statehood - very tense and it's just a foretaste of what it will be like in September. ONly we expect it on a much larger scale.  http://www.jpost.com/NationalNews/Article.aspx?id=229557

Also more bombings into and out of Gaza. Saw the helicopters this morning. Frightening.

And Cathay Pacific is no longer flying flat-face cats and dogs. Poor Rex!!!! http://thestandard.com.hk/news_detail.asp?pp_cat=30&art_id=113130&sid=33036550&con_type=3

I'm taking a rest after an awful week healthwise. The weekend is flowing in and I'm not fighting it - nor planning it. I'll just let it happen... especially for tomorrow when I know I'll freak out over something important.

Weekend again

Spent another day resting. Feel so tired and hardly any energy even to walk. And the heat is not helping. It's so hot and dry the Golan was on fire today. Looks like August will be worse. Shop-keepers are edgy - no more tourists are coming, and the talk of war is constantly on their lips. Lebanon is threatening Israel over its sea border again. Israeli Law professors protest the "Boycott Law". Israeli kindergarten babies must sing the National Anthem once a week! cf http://www.haaretz.com/print-edition/news/israeli-kindergarteners-now-have-to-sing-the-national-anthem-every-week-1.373094 And Israel bombed Gaza tunnels again ... we could hear the jets flying overhead. In Jerusalem ultra-Orthodox Jews attack police leaving 6 officers injured. It is going to be a very long summer ... culminating in September when 52% of Israelis believe a war will break out. Let's hope we are all wrong.

There is an interesting article on old photos taken during the last earthquake in 1927. http://www.jpost.com/Features/InThespotlight/Article.aspx?id=229144  More photos at http://www.israeldailypicture.com/ .

Meantime I'm just letting the weekend flow in. I'm just too tired to plan for tomorrow.

Finally

Utterly exhausting day. Wasn't much activity though, worked at the Media Centre from 9am to 5pm. Good to see old colleagues again. ... but physically I was just too drawn out.  Then it finally happened. I fainted. Luckily I was back home in my room. Nothing dramatic ... just felt so tired and legs became shaky and head was dizzy. Then I was down. When I woke up, it felt sort of good ... like after a long rest. Didn't hurt myself luckily as I was next to my bed and fell on it. And I was so hungry. So  few hours later I had something to eat. Nausea and vomited.

Anyway talking about hungry, someone loves chocolate cake but hates the cream. Look what happened!

This morning Fr Ekspedyt died. He was 89 yrs old. I thought he would have been over 100. Ever since I was a student and knew him, he seemed so old.

New week, new tensions

The Boycott Bill got into a heated start. If passed, it means anyone who calls for a boycott of Israel or the settlements will be penalised.  http://www.haaretz.com/news/diplomacy-defense/heated-debate-in-knesset-over-boycott-law-legislation-will-stain-israeli-democracy-1.372697

Meanwhile Israel has thrown out 39 pro-Palestinian fly-in protesters and jailed 81 more. http://www.haaretz.com/news/diplomacy-defense/israel-expels-39-pro-palestinian-activists-over-weekend-holds-81-more-in-jail-1.372693

Lebanon warns Israel over sea border. And tyhe pro-Assad mob that attacked the US and French embassies in Damascus is causing fear ripples in the region.

Have been in bed the whole day due to the cramps and diarrhea yesterday. Felt pretty sick. The munition blast in Cyprus was real bad .... hope Praveen is alright. He's in Limassol where the blast took place. Hey Prav, write if you're ok.

More tensions

Spent most of the weekend sleeping. Total breakdown as the body is just too tired. And cleaning the large birdcage without a mask got me a huge asthma attack that made me sick the rest of yesterday. Absolutely nauseous. This morning, have been up since 3am because of the cramps and diarrhea. I think I'm due for another trip to the hospital.

Kites over Damascus Gate

Tensions again as Israel and Lebanon squabble over the sea border. US is siding with Lebanon. Coast is on high alert. And the Knesset will vote today to outlaw boycotts - whatever that means. Does it mean if I boycott buying Israeli cottage cheese, I can get arrested? Hmmm must study that one. And more tensions in Jerusalem as ultra-orthodox Jews are trying to close down main thoroughfares on the Sabbath - that would mean we non-Jews cannot travel. Secular Jews and non-jews are fighting back.

On the lighter side, the strong winds provide great opportunity for kite-flying. At Damascus Gate you find people flying monster kites at all hours of the day. One fell into our courtyard. "Go fly a kite" takes on a different meaning - it's a relief from the tensions that accumulating in the City. Hmmmm I wonder if kite-flying will be outlawed because it breaks the Sabbath law.....