Christians warned to "stay indoors" in Jerusalem

A crow patiently waits to
see if the body is dead or
asleep 

More attacks on churches the past few days by jewish extremists ... and no arrests so far. The Romanian Orthodox Church is the latest victim of vandalism ... among the graffiti "Jesus is trash". Police have even warned that violence may occur when the pope visits the Holyland in a few weeks time. Tomorrow Jews will demonstrate at the Last Supper Room against christians ... all based on the rumour that the Last Supper Room will be handed over back to the Church. Christians are told to stay indoors to avoid getting hurt. Such is the violence against christians here in Israel ... no different from the surrounding muslim countries where the church is persecuted.
http://www.haaretz.com/news/diplomacy-defense/1.589924

This morning the police themselves removed a banner hung on church property that welcomes the pope in 3 languages because some jews were upset. Can this be real? in a democratic State? The situation has become unbearable. And the worse thing is christians around the world aren't just bothered by this at all ... the Mother Church is under attack and no one cares.

Anti-catholic violence hits Bishops' Conference Office

The alarming rise of anti-catholic attacks in the last 3 weeks have reached an unacceptable level when the office of the Holyland's Bishops' Conference at the Notre Dame Centre (Vatican property) was defaced and vandalised with hebrew threats. The bishops are now calling for international Catholic protests and reactions to this deplorable persecution in a civilised democracy. No doubt the rise of this violence is timed for the Pope's visit in 2 weeks.

http://www.jpost.com/National-News/Catholic-Church-demands-action-on-price-tag-attacks-prepare-to-campaign-351641  and  http://www.haaretz.com/news/diplomacy-defense/1.589569

And no doubt these attacks are the result of the rabbis' opposition of the Israeli govt. returning the Last Supper Room to the Catholic Church ... a property that has always remained in Catholic possession despite being removed from it by the Ottomans and the modern Israeli govt. The title deeds are still in the hands of the Franciscan Order.  http://virtualjerusalem.com/judaism.php?Itemid=12797

The problem is the police have no desire to arrest the Jewish extremists who perpetrate these hate crimes. Vandalism and destruction of Catholic property the past 3 years have not resulted in any arrests.  But every attack on Jewish property was met with swift justice within a day of it's perpetration.

A flash of lightening
illumines the nightsky

The dreadful and deplorable situation was definitely reflected in the heavens yesterday when a totally unusual thunderstorm broke during the night. Massive lightening bolts flashed through the skies all night. Heavy rains and strong winds ... something we'd expect in December or January. This storm is much feared by farmers because the wheat is just ripening for harvest and the fruit trees are just flowering. Rains would destroy all the crops and flowers. Traffic has been disrupted  in most areas and 70 american tourists are trapped in the desert due to flash floods. The heavenly upheaval is ominously suggestive to the dire destiny of christians in the Holyland. Not only are they persecuted in the muslim countries ... now the Jewish counterparts are playing an active hand.

http://www.jpost.com/National-News/Late-spring-rain-brings-Israel-to-a-halt-351631

Independence Day

Formation flying over
the steeple of St. Peter's

The solemn day of Remembrane on Monday gave way to revelling and parties in the evening to celebrate Independence Day. The streets in Jerusalem were filled with Israelis holding flags and other accessories. Makeshift stalls selling Independence Day souvenirs and food literally lined Jaffa Street up into Ben Yehuda. Street corners had bands playing and alcohol was flowing from pubs into the streets. Fireworks were set off at 10pm.

I took a brief walk downtown to see the festivities then went to Mandarin's. Ah Ling had cooked rice and tomato fried eggs and beef to take away but insisted I first ate with the cooking team before leaving. They had porridge with fried calamari, beef with szechuen veggies and fried doufu. It was very nice.

Hazy skies spoiled
the display

Early yesterday morning I went off to my other community in Jaffa. Had this day off as I finished my teaching curriculum on Monday. The superior of Jaffa invited me to spend the day there and rest. And I did. Arrived at 6.30am, celebrated Mass with the community and then slept till 10am. Went up to the iconic church's roof to watch the annual flypass of Independence Day. The beachfront of Tel Aviv was packed with crowds. But the weather was bad .... very hazy and strong winds. The airshow was staggered and delayed. But the few formation flights of the airforce were impressive. Our church being the landmark where all aircraft take their orientation became a great advantage for taking photos. All the aircraft had to fly over the church as part of the flight path. The superior and I stood below our steeple and took photos. Incredible sight.

In the afternoon I suffered a bad attack of asthma. Forgot to bring my medicine with me, and pharmacies were closed due to Independence Day. They wanted to bring me to hospital but I thought I could risk the 45 min. bus ride home. Which I did. Only I forgot I still had to walk 1 km home from the bus station. Managed to reach home and got my medicine. Thought I'd died. Then slept right through the night.

3rd Sunday of Easter

More arab weddings today. Families are rushing from one reception to another ... and the usual case being families marrying within the clan, there can be several weddings within the clan on the same day. Can be a costly affair for the visiting relative as money and gifts have to be given at each wedding.

Flags at halfmast at
Municipality Square

This evening sirens will sound as Israel stops to commemorate the soldiers killed since the founding of the State. It will be a sombre day tomorrow. Solemn music on all media stations, most entertainment and food centres will be closed. Another siren will sound at 10am tomorrow for a minute's silence. Independence Day will follow tomorrow evening at sunset.

The population of Israel is well into 8 and a half million on the eve of Independence Day. But the nation is dreadfully fragmented between secularists and ultra-orthodox, rightists and leftists, israelis and arabs, jews and gentiles. After 66 years of founding ... will there be a little light to shed hope for everyone?

Right now our greatest fear is not political or social upheavel but the dreaded MERS virus that's killing hundreds in the Middle East. Scientists think it's from the mucous from camels' noses. Now it's spread to America from muslim pilgrims to Saudi Arabia. In a few weeks it'll be Ramadan and lots of muslim Palestinians will go to pilgrimage to Mecca. The possibility of them catching MERS and bringing it back is very real. That is a major cause of serious concern ... a war which neither Israel nor Palestine will not be able to battle and conquer. Political aspirations for independence chained to the tyranny of a tiny virus.

Hot day

Saturday bazaar at
Damascus Gate

The weather has been extreme ... very hot during the day but very cold during the night. People are getting sick. It would certainly be great for the Independence Day celebrations on Tuesday. I expect lots of people will be going to the Tel Aviv beachfront where the annual fly pass and sail pass by the airforce and navy will take place. Was looking forward to seeing it myself but now I was told I have to work on Tuesday. Awful. The weather is good for weddings though. I think there was some 3 or 4 weddings in our Quarter today. That means lots of fireworks the whole night. Don't look forward to the noise.

4 days after the police chief announced that the police force will get tough on jewish extremist attacks on arabs and christians, today more vandalism was perpetrated. Can the police chief be serious?  http://www.jpost.com/Middle-East/Vandals-use-graffiti-damage-Palestinian-olive-trees-in-suspected-price-tag-351220  Responding to US protests that Israel was not doing enough to arrest teh perpertrators, the PM said more will be done ... which is but lipservice because several of Israel's security agencies have publicly admitted that there is no desire nor will to arrest these attackers.  http://www.jpost.com/National-News/Former-Israel-Security-Agency-chief-Israel-does-not-intend-to-stop-price-tags-351225

I had to work this morning and in the afternoon I cleaned my room. Managed to sleep for a few minutes as I'm feeling so exhausted. My friend Jonathan called to say he's visiting the Old City and wanted to introduce me to his new girlfriend. We had a nice walk visiting some churches and had ice-coffee at Notre Dame before they left. Anyway it's back to sleep for me ... I get tired so easily under this weather and my workload and the fact that I'm not eating enough.

Independence Day round the corner

Sunset in Tel Aviv

Friday was unremarkable. Despite some military and mounted police presence, nothing happened. I guess the police wanted to take some precautions as next Tuesday marks Independence Day - 66 years of the founding of the modern State of Israel. What has been upsetting some people is the PM's determination to pass a bill in parliament declaring Israel to be a "Jewish State". That makes all non-jews unqualified to be Israeli citizens ... including thousands of arabs, druze, armenians and other minorities who have lived in this land for centuries. They lose citizen automatically unless they convert to judaism. Perhaps the sun has set for all of us foreigners and non-jews.

Last night I was woken up with alot of shouting in the streets and strong search lights flashing across my room from the window. It was midnight. I went out to the terrace to see what was happening and found soldiers in riot gear directly below searching but not moving in any direction. Arab youths from neighbouring houses were throwing stones and bottles at the soldiers. I was afraid if they soldiers shown their light up at me, they might mistake me for one of the arabs and shoot me. Also the arab youths in the neighbouring houses were yelling at me to stay indoors. The battle continued for an hour or so ... till more troops came into the street. Then things quietened down and life went back as normal. I'm sure everyone wants to live in peace. Enough of the fighting and warring. 66 years is enough. There has not been one day of peace.

Polluted water

Some of our museum
artefacts at the exhibition

The City flew into a panic as the Municipality announced at 1pm that all water from taps are polluted by sewerage and no one should use the water. Boiling the water for 2 mins is required if anyone wishes to take the risk. Suddenly bottled water from all shops and supermarkets were snapped up. Prices shot up ... a normal 2 shekel litre of mineral water rose to 6 shekels. People were running around the City buying up cartons of it. I managed to buy 2 bottles late at night after work and it costs me that much money. But at least I got to wash my face and brush my teeth in the morning. Later this afternoon we received news that the problem was solved. But we have first to empty all our water tanks, clean our water pipes and taps before storing new clean water in it.

The past 2 days was as usual full of work. Was extremely exhausted. But last night was the inauguration of a new exhibition at the Citadel of David museum which I was invited. It presented the history of medicine and healthcare in Jerusalem for the past 3000 years. Some of our museum and library artefacts were lent for this exhibition. It was quite crowded with dignitaries, the mayor, religious heads, archaeologists and of course big-time benefactors. It was an interesting display and certainly informative and educational. What an apt exhibition when our tap water became a health hazard.

Reception at the exhibition
inauguration

On the down side of news, attacks on christians have been on the rise this week. The catholic bishop of Nazareth received a letter warning catholics will be attacked if they do not leave Israel. Church property have been vandalised. And perpetrators have never been arrested. Finally this morning the US govt. protested that Israel is not doing enough to stop anti-christian attacks. The police chief replied that the police force will step up its action. But everyone, including Israeli newspapers, railed at the hypocrisy of the police force ... if it were an arab attack on an israeli institution, an arrest would have been made within hours. But for israeli attacks on arabs and non-jewish institutions, nothing has been done even after 2 years. Somehow surveillance cameras, witnesses and intelligence gathering always fail when non-jews are attacked. The pollution of our tap water is less threatening than the pollution of justice.