Pentecost

This evening begins the jewish feast of Pentecost or in hebrew Shavuot. It was originally a harvest feast but since agriculture is now only a minority profession, and the Temple has been destroyed 1900 years ago, the feast is now centered on the giving of the Torah to the jewish people. Long story about this evolution .... go google it.

Fence cutting across Palm Plaza

Anyway things are tense as muslims celebrate the first Friday of Ramadan yesterday and Jews begin Shavuot. Both groups use Damascus Gate to get to their respective places of worship. police had now advised jews to useably Damascus Gate and muslims to use the other 2 City gates: Herod's and Lions'. Palm Plaza in front of Damascus Gate has a metal fence running right across the north-south line, effectively separating East Jerusalem (arab) from West Jerusalem (jewish). I guess it's a security measure to stop arabs from entering the jewish side of Jerusalem or terrorists from entering Damascus Gate. Anyway it looks terrible .... dividing the City like this.

"Mian" noodles

It has been so exhausting today my body crashed. Massive asthma attacks and despite that I still had to work all morning ... but by lunch time everything fell apart. I stayed in bed as I could not walk with the asthma ... and fell asleep for some 4 hours. It was good.

And the past few days as I had so much work to do (14 hours a day) I could only get food from around the corner. Which is nice. Because around the corner is now the new chinese restaurant "Mian" that serves cantonese soup noodles. Really delicious ... and typically Hong Kong, it's a quick meal so I have time to get back to work.

Thanks to everyone for the food, clothes, bag and gifts. Sorry but I'm too tired right now to list all the names. But assuring you that I got everything and am grateful.

Terrorist attack in Tel Aviv

Damascus Gate last night

Yesterday evening the dreadful news of an arab attack in Tel Aviv rocked the country. Two or maybe more arabs from Hebron dressed like ultra-orthodox jews entered a popular restaurant, ate dinner then started shooting at the people there. 4 dead 18 injured. All this because Israel offered access to Palestinians from the Territories to come out at worship at the Al Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem during Ramadan. So rightly today Israel revoked the permits of over 83,000 arab muslims to enter Israel again.

But the shock was that it could happen in Tel Aviv .... usually calm and seldom terrorized. And that these terrorists could actually go so far out into Tel Aviv instead of nearby Jerusalem.

Arab muslims, youths especially, who were in the Al Aqsa to pray last night came out at about 9.30pm chanting and rejoicing over the deaths. Damascus Gate became the focal point for their celebration. Chants of Allah Akbar and other nationalistic slogans drowned out the area. But the Israeli police kept a cool head. They remained at the top of the steps but only charged once to disperse the crowd. Unfortunately I couldn't get home because the Gate was blocked by these demonstrators. I had to go home from Herod's Gate 500 meters further east. When I entered the house, the demonstrators gathered inside the City bear our house. Police fired 2 stun grenades and ended the demonstration.

Well this attack should be read in context ... to be fair. 2 days previously jews were attacking arabs in the Jerusalem train stations, racial slurs and blasphemies were thrown at the arabs. It got very little news attention but the local arab population felt it especially when it's Ramadan.

I can only imagine things getting worse after Ramadan.

Ramadan begins

Friars in procession at Damascus Gate

Well finally the Ramadan cannon was fired! I thought the muslims had abandoned this tradition because on Sunday evening when Ramadan started there was no cannon fired. But yesterday (Monday evening) it was fired. Sounded very strange tough ... much sharper and clearer. They must have changed new cannons.

The new Custos arrived and made his official entry into the City. It was a big affair. Heads of all the different churches and religions were there to welcome him. Even the protestant leaders were there ... the first time they have participated in this solemn entry I was told. I couldn't go because I had to work. Too bad.

Dumpster filled with good food

Yesterday as I was going to work, I passed by a dumpster filled with good edible fresh fruit .... the police had confiscated them from an illegal hawker and threw it all away!!! I was furious! How many poor families cold have eaten from that!! Why couldn't the police have given it to charity? It was terrible. This is how Ramadan is celebrated? Fasting and throwing away good food.

Jerusalem Day but not Ramadan

Thank goodness there were no major clashes and violence during the Jerusalem Day march through the Muslim Quarter of the Old City. At 4am jewish groups were already marching into the City, chanting, singing, banging drums and waking up the muslim population.

The 1st group of jewish marchers
in front of our house at 11am

Then there was a lull in the morning when hundreds of muslims entered the City for possibly the last day of prayers before Ramadan is declared this evening. Police had filed for a ban for jewish groups to make the march through the Muslim Quarter for fear of clashes, but the High Court decided that it should go ahead but anticipated by 15 mins so it should end before sunset and not provoke the muslims who might begin Ramadan at sunset. Well Ramadan was not declared because the new moon could not be sighted ... the final call lies with Saudi Arabia to declare Ramadan or not.

Tens of thousands of
marchers at El Wad
street near the 3rd
Station

Jewish groups began coming in by noon but staggered as noon and after-noon muslim prayers saw the streets closed to jewish groups. Insults and derogatory chants were aimed at muslims but no major clashes occurred.

I didn't go out today as it was very hot. And I was not feeling well as my asthma has crippled me the whole night and day. Just walking up a flight of stairs tire me.

And we received news that last Saturday when the catholic community in the city of Rehovot (near Tel Aviv) was celebrating Corpus Christi with Bishop Shomali, a group of jewish youths attacked the congregation during Mass, throwing stones. Bit of course these perpetrators  will never be caught, just like those who burned the Trappist church doors, vandalised the Last Supper Room, burned the Church of 5 Loaves and 2 Fish ...

Heatwave

The excruciating heatwave has returned ... this time with high humidity. Bread and food are getting mouldy when left unrefrigerated overnight. Everyone is trying to walk in the shade when outside. People are saying it was 40 degrees ... but I'm not sure. It was 35 degrees in the morning because I double-checked.

Street lights
under protection

Perhaps this heat will hamper the rightist youth groups planning to march through our Muslim Quarter tomorrow. Last night at 2am there was a lot of noisy chatter in the streets; so loud it woke me up. I went out to the terrace to check it out and behold, over 100 jewish youths were marching through our street under soldier guard. And they made sure everyone woke up to that. This evening smaller groups walked through our Quarter too, under protection from soldiers of course. I think tonight larger groups will come and climax tomorrow into thousands. Frightening as they can get very aggressive and violent to non-jews.

Well to equal up ... the Head of Counter-Terrorism announced that a small ISIS cell is already established here in Israel and terrorism should be expected in the near future.

Anyway yesterday municipality workmen did a whirlwind job of covering our street lamps with mesh wire and iron frames. That's how serious they think tomorrow's clash will be!!! And me?? I'm still mulling about going out to Damascus Gate and see the riots. That's me. Hope I don't get asthma attacks when tear-gas is fired.

Nearing D-Day

Cranes at Damascus Gate fixing
security cameras

It's Thursday and tomorrow is the last Friday before Ramadan. Tensions are building up. The Municipality is so anxious over the inevitable clash between muslims and rightwing extremists youths on Sunday that they're planning the nationalistic march through the muslim quarter at an earlier hour .... probably morning instead of afternoon. Last year the jewish youths wanted to march down East Jerusalem to burn arab shops and houses. Yes it is that bad. It's a D-Day scenario.  http://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/.premium-1.722610

Olive trees pruned to provide
better vision for security cameras

2 days ago the Municipality fixed more security cameras at Damascus Gate (I think there were already 6 in place). Trees around the garden were chopped off to clear the line of vision as well. That is how serious the Municipality considers this Sunday clash to be. I really don't know what to make of it. Should I stay home? My instincts say to go out and risk getting attacked. I like the excitement. Last year I was nearly attacked because the extremist jews were really anti-non-jew ... attacking anyone in sight. I had stayed at a safe distance ... but at times not safe enough when rushing crowds chased arabs and beat them up.

The weather has been quite nice lately ... sunny but a cool breeze blowing constantly. That will encourage more people to turn out for the march. But things can change by Sunday.

1/6/16

Today is 1/6/16 ... nice coincidence of numbers. And a day with some major surprises here in our country. Firstly the off-duty police who beat up an arab supermarket worker for no reason have been reported to be under criminal investigation for their unwarranted violence. It's a little good news .... something we did not expect as these police usually enjoy impunity and are beyond reproach. Anyway it's just investigations and it might (or will) end in nothing. http://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/.premium-1.722553

Secondly last week's uproar among Israelis calling for arab blood over the alleged rape of a mentally retarded jewish woman by 3 arab youths has suddenly taken a twist: the woman today has admitted that there was no rape, that her family fabricated the story to stop her affair with one of the youths. The original accusations were dreadful, that the rape was nationalistically motivated (meaning arab attack on jews) which included racial slurs, spitting and battering. Now it's all reversed .... and there is a great silence on the jewish side. http://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/1.722592

On the negative side we learn from the newspapers that police have been undertaking night raids in jerusalem villages, arresting people. Possibly it's a deterrent move ahead of Ramadan?Jerusalem Day celebrations when we expect major clashes. And Israel's top jewish terrorist, a 23 yr old extremist associated with attacks on non-jews and arabs (burning of the Dawabsheh family house killing both parents and the 1 yr old baby) has been released from detention. Scot free.

Jaffa Street and the tramway
packed with people

Anyway away from the contentious front, the nights here in Jerusalem continue to be packed with thousands of visitors to the Festival of Lights. It was like former years. I went to see the Pink route which is in the New City. Jaffa Street was so packed the trams had difficulty passing as people occupied the tracks. Buskers took opportunity to perform and earn a little something. The usual Thursday night market (= pasar malam) was opened last night as well. And I returned to Zedekiah's Cave on the way home because it was so fascinating. I needed to see it again .... also because entry is free of charge during the Festival.