Jaffa riot

Demonstrators around the esplanade

Last night and today saw massive demonstrations in the Al Aqsa esplanade from 7.30pm onwards. After the 9.30pm prayers the crowds which numbered thousands left mainly toward Lions Gate. A lot of chanting. The Gate was totally blocked with people. Women and children and elderly left through our road towards Damascus Gate where there were less crowds and less violence. The Border Police showed great restraint both nights. In fact they were not even in our street. Half a dozen showed up only when the demonstrators  came up our way but nothing happened. No tear gas or stun grenade was shot at Lions Gate despite the massive and almost dangerous protest. I thought that was smart ... such demonstrations just fizzle out.  See the video of tonight's demonstration  http://www.jerusalemonline.com/news/politics-and-military/military/after-removing-metal-detectors-how-will-israel-deal-with-security-30038

But Jaffa saw more violence than us today. Rioters set fire in the streets and attacked police because the police had shot dead an arab criminal suspect. Tensions are high. See
http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4995780,00.html
http://www.timesofisrael.com/riots-break-out-in-jaffa-after-police-killing-of-suspect-fleeing-shooting-scene/

Makloubeh today

Remember in winter I said this summer would be full of trouble? ... I was right. Let's hope things will fizzle out as the August heat hits us and the people are generally tired of this unrest and road closures and lockdowns. And for a little distraction from these weighty matters, we had makloubeh for lunch. It's one of my favourite arab dishes ... rice cooked with veggies and chicken.

Quiet Friday

Nablus Road is closed off

After yesterday's violence where over 90 plus wounded, the Police were taking no chances today. They closed the whole of East Jerusalem. The 3 Gates of the Muslim Quarter were all closed off and even roads outside the Old City were closed off. It was severe. Nablus Road that leads directly to Damascus Gate had 2 metal barriers just 15 meters apart. I had to go out early in the morning through all the barriers and when I got home at 9am ... the roads remained empty except for lots of soldiers and police. A couple of tourists were walking about, as usual, totally oblivious to the tension in the air. Most shops were closed. Only those selling food and veggies were open and local residents were buying up in view of a possible lockdown again.

Damascus Gate is totally empty

Entries to the AL Aqsa Mosque were also heavily guarded. Over men over 50 yrs were allowed to enter. Women on the other hand had free movement. From our rooftop we could see that the Al Aqsa esplanade was very empty. Noonday prayers passed off without incident ... as there were hardly anyone in the streets. However outside in Musrara and other areas of the Territories like Jericho, Hebron, Bethlehem and Qalandya were all wrecked with vicious clashes. Don't know how many were wounded. But like I said, inside our Muslim Quarter it was calm ... which is good for everyone. I don't like tear gas floating into my room. It chokes me and provokes severe asthmatic reactions. I could possibly die from that.

Austrian Hospice/3rd Station junction
totally blocked off

I decided to stay home after this morning early errand ... it was not worth the trouble of getting locked out of the City. The Archbishop was in contact with me most of the late morning. We were classmates 25 years back. And due to the clashes yesterday and warnings from the Police, none of our students showed up at the library so I decided to close it by noon. That left me with a half day free to catch up with some important work. And sleep was catching up on me ... I managed to sleep half an hour and it felt so good. In the evening at 6pm I went up to the other library through the alleys that were opened to do some chores and then returned in an hour ... scared that the Police might close off the streets again before the 7.45 prayer. It was extremely hot and I felt so exhausted walking uphill and down. I'm going to sleep early tonight. I deserve it.

Here are some news and videos of today in the Old City:
http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4995584,00.html
http://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/.premium-1.803958
http://www.jpost.com/Arab-Israeli-Conflict/Israeli-Police-on-high-alert-ahead-of-Friday-prayers-at-Temple-Mount-501023
and here's a good analysis of the situation
http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4995536,00.html

More and worse violence

Stand off at
Bab Hutta

Even as I am writing, Tear gas and stun reengages are being fired 50 metres in front of our house, 20 metres left go our house and 70 metres behind our house. Thousands and thousands of muslims were running up our street chanting and throwing stones because clashes occurred in the Al Aqsa compound and 41 were wounded. Literally thousands blocked out streets in anger and violence. Border Police began firing tear gas and stun grenades in our street and the surrounding alleys. It was total chaos ... something right out of the Intifada days. And it's only 4.30pm. I can't imagine the violence at 9.30pm after the last prayers. It will be dreadful.

I was caught up in it as I was just going out to M. Teresa's convent. Our doorman had closed our gates for safety and I had closed our library. However getting out into our street was a horror as waves of muslims were running the other direction chanting and calling for blood. I was carrying a huge bag of medicines for the sisters and could not run. Just had to fight my way through 200 meters to get to the sisters' convent. After that I still had to go up to the other monastery to get a job done because I forgot it this morning. Then I rushed back home ... praying that the police didn't blockade our street. Thankfully it was opened. People were distributed Coca Cola and sandwiches to the protesters that had gathered at Austrian Hospice entrance.

Distributing free
sandwiches and
coke

The whole irony of this violence is that the Israelis had removed all metal detectors and security cameras as the muslims demanded. At noon the Grand Mufti declared that muslims can now enter the Al Aqsa to pray. But at 4pm as the crowds entered for the 4.30pm prayer, stones and bottles were thrown and the police responded with crowd dispersal means. It's been a running battle till now ... even as I write. I can hear south, chants and screams outside. Lots and lots of tear gas and stun grenades fired in the Al Aqsa compound and Herod's Gate.

I guess tomorrow we'll have a lockdown in our Quarter ... not looking forward to it but I'm ready this time. Bought my medicines and food.

Here are some links on news on this clash:
http://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/1.803784
http://www.jpost.com/Arab-Israeli-Conflict/Thousands-of-Palestinians-return-to-Temple-Mount-as-security-measures-removed-500927
http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4995269,00.html
http://www.timesofisrael.com/clashes-erupt-at-temple-mount-as-muslim-worshipers-return-to-site/

Another day

Soldiers at Bab Hutta
Arch while muslims
gather in front of St.
Anne's Church

After last night's violence, this evening the demonstration was a lot more under control. The Border Police were still minimal like yesterday but I think after the forceful reaction to the crowds last night, reminded everyone that no one and nothing will be spared if they tried to disrupt the peace in our Quarter. The friars in the Garden of Gethsemani recounted there awful night they had yesterday. The scuffles went on till 2am behind and outside their monastery. And it was very violent. I pity them having to suffer this every night for the past week.

This evening I had to go for a dinner to thank our volunteers of the library. After one month's hard work, they cleared up over 50 boxes of books which I my self could not do alone. On the way home ... and I made sure I came home before the last muslim prayer at 9.20pm. As there were few police in the streets and no blockades I decided to go down to Bab Hutta to take some photos. There were a dozen Border Police under the Arch of Bab Hutta and thereafter were hundreds of muslims lined up in front of St. Anne's Church waiting for prayers. I returned immediately after taking the photos as the crowds' temperament is very unpredictable. But like I said earlier, the prayers ended with relative calm and the crowd went out chanting but not causing any trouble.

Prison of St. Ignatius of Loyola

This morning I took advantage of the calm to go to work in our other library one km away. Then I went to visit some archeologist friends who are working below our parish church ... just 20 meters from the library. They showed me what they had found ... several rooms including one they believed was where St. Ignatius of Loyola was imprisoned by the Franciscans. Ignatius had gone to preach to the muslims in Jerusalem and that caused an uproar among the muslims who threatened to kill all christians. To prevent Ignatius from causing more harm to the status quo, the franciscans imprisoned him in a small room under the monastery till the next ship arrived to bring him back to Spain. That's a little known fact in Church history.

Worst clashes yet

Muslims sitting in
the streets as they
refuse to enter the
Al Aqsa Mosque

Last night was a lot more calm than we had expected. I think the soldiers' presence played an important role in preventing violence in our street. They blocked all the alleys so there was no escape for trouble-makers ... as a result the muslims walked off without incident. During the day hundreds of muslims sit along the streets waiting for prayer time as they refused to enter the Al Aqsa Mosque.

But tonight hell broke lose. The secret exchange as I had predicted took place after midnight yesterday: the Israeli guard and personnel held in Amman were returned to Israel and the metal detectors were removed at 4am. All streets were opened for movement although there were lots of soldiers still in the streets. At evening muslim crowds gathered outside the Al Aqsa Mosque at Lions Gate to pray as the imamsrefuse to allow them to enter the Mosque as a sign of protest (over what I don't know as the metal detectors were already removed). After final prayers at 9.20pm the crowds grew aggressive and scuffles broke out. Border Police rushed into the Old City from Herod's Gate and stun grenades and tear gas were fired in from of St. Anne's Church where the crowd was most violent. The Police then moved toward our house as the crowds had gathered in front of our garage. There were also shots in the Bab Hutta neighbourhood, the street below Lions Gate down to Gethsemane. It was quite widespread.

Border Police 10
meters  from our
house tonight

The crowds below our house was herded by Border Police down to the 3rd Station. Many other Border Police were stationed at Ecce Homo ... this kept the crowds at bay and non-violent.

Goodness knows when this madness will end. The muslims have no reason to protest ... it's all whipped up by emotions and frustrations stirred by the imams.

Well today I was exhausted because the streets were opened. You never know when they'll be closed again so I did all the work that I needed to do in the various places before returning home at 3pm. Then tonight this clash occurred. I am going to sleep this one off.

More violence

Junction at 3rd Station of the Cross
closed to all except tourists now

And the violence just seem to increase. Last night was the stabbing attack at the Israeli Embassy in Amman .... then just a few minutes ago there was a stabbing in the city of Petah Tikva near Tel Aviv. It's becoming very complicated and widespread .... and soon the Israeli govt will not be able to contain it. One good face-saving way out for Israel to remove the metal detectors without appearing to be weak is to bargain for the release of the Israeli guard in Amman who shot and killed the 2 Jordanian stabbers and is now under arrest. In exchange for his release, Israel will remove the metal detectors ... that way both sides win and no one loses face.

Standoff between
arab youths at one
end of the tunnel,
and Israeli police at
the other end

But the problems for us on ground zero are still very real and frustrating ... streets continue to be closed ... spot checks on people ... We only want al this to end. Trouble and trouble-makers from outside Jerusalem cause our daily suffering in the Old City. And of course responsibility lies on the religious leaders who fan the uneducated masses into a frenzy of emotions ... which result in deaths. And you don't see any of these leaders anywhere when these young men die in the conflict.

Last night I witnessed a standoff right under our window ... I went out to take pictures. At one end of the tunnel, arab youths with stones and bottles in hand stand in provocation. At the other end of the tunnel Israeli Border Police have their weapons ready. In between them, prostrate on the floor, were muslim worshippers praying.

Let's hope some peace and serenity will come soon.

One week on ...

Chanting crowds
give Border Police
a wide berth

Demonstrations continued yesterday evening. There were no clashes in the Old City or outside Lions Gate because the Border Police had  a good strategy to prevent violence ... they were stationed at every single road and alley entrance of the Muslim Quarter while the muslims were praying in the streets ... their presence was very noticeable, and there's no where to run and hide ... so everyone played it safe and kept the peace. Groups left the prayers chanting but there was no Molotov cocktails or stones. It was only the crowds moved closing to Herod's Gate (where they can run and hide in the streets of the New City) that stones were thrown at police and fireworks shot at them. The police responded with stun grenades and tear gas. This was directly behind our house. The explosions and tear gas were absolutely horrid. But it soon passed. Clashes occurred outside Herod's Gate ... I think it was quite violent as we could hear it from our house.  See  http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4992754,00.html

Violent clashes also took place int he surrounding villages. Up on the Mt. of Olives at the village of A-Tur where the colt was brought to Jesus for him to ride into Jerusalem ... that village was badly affected. Similarly in Abu Tor, Silwan (biblical Siloam), Issawiya .... all had violent skirmishes with the Border Police. The Police had closed off the road in front of the Garden of Gethsemane so rioters could not even get 200 meters from Lions Gate. Biblical Bethany - El Lazariya (from "Lazarus") today - was so violent it left one arab dead.  http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4992754,00.html

While muslims
prayed, trouble-
makers stood by the
side waiting for an
opportunity

This morning we received a bit of good news: the police are willing to remove the metal detectors and replace it with some other security measure. It's now up to the palestinians to accept it or not. Both sides don't want to appear as backing down and losing face ... so it'll take some time both sides to posture and look good publicly. Meantime there is no lack of trouble makers looking for every opportunity to create chaos. From my roof I could see the bunch of them waiting by the roadside while other muslims prayed.

Life seems to bounce back to its daily rhythm today. People are back in the streets, shops are opened and the police are not as many. However tonight things might change. Everything is so unpredictable.

I took advantage of the calm by going to the supermarket to buy necessities. You never know when the next curfew is enforced so it's better to stock up now. The weather is quite agreeable ... 28 degrees with a cool wind blowing. That's probably one of the reasons for the riots ... if it were 35 degrees, everyone including rioters would not bother to come out in the heat. Everyone would be back home with their aircons switched on.