Cold again

City back to normal

 After the 2 attacks of the last 2 days, the City has become quiet again. Stop and search is still being carried out and police are still everywhere, though less tense. Let's hope it continues ... this uneasy peace.

The weather has been erratic again. Though the sun is shining brightly each day, it's still quite cold. Temp hover around 8 degrees but when the wind blows it feels like zero degrees. Once in a while storm clouds darken the sky but then it blows away and it becomes bright again. The forecast today is for rain. We need it as the air pollution is quite bad. My asthma has been quite bad as a result. 

My blog is being hacked again. Yesterday saw 104 views, which I simply have no idea where they come from. Walls have ears and ceilings have eyes. 

There is  not much other news except for the Russian attack on Ukraine. It's a shame that the West is all talk, while ukrainians continue to be killed. You can never trust so-called allies when the going gets tough. Nothing has been done for the conflict in Eritrea and thousands have been killed and displaced. It's just repeating itself around the world, and all the countries that can do something, simply talk.

Somehow we must have hope, and be resourceful and depend on ourselves. No one is going to fight your wars. Israel luckily, has learned that. I think it's the only country in the world that has this reality in mind.

Another attack

All stuck inside New Gate

Yesterday evening saw another stabbing attack, this time near the Wailing Wall. I heard a loud explosion at about 5.30pm and thought a bomb had exploded. Police cars and ambulances were rushing towards Damascus Gate in an endless stream ... sirens screaming for over 40 minutes. I went out to see what had happened but when I saw a police car driving up to New Gate, I knew at once that the City Gates were being closed. So I rushed back up to New Gate and was the last to enter as the police blockaded all the City Gates from exit and entry.

Police car blockades New Gate

From 5.30pm to 7pm when the sun had set and it was dark and cold, the City Gates remained closed. Crowds were gathering and getting anxious and tense. Arguments with police ensure. A group of arab school girls became hysterical and screamed and cried. Jews, muslims, christians, monks, nuns, imams, rabbis, young and old .... all were stuck inside New Gate as I was. Waiting. Waiting for the police to reopen the Gate so we can go home, and those outside could enter.

From the news later I read that the explosion was due to stun grenades exploding when arab youths began antagonizing police at Damascus Gate. The stabbing itself took place deep in the City between the Muslim Quarter and the Jewish Quarter ... the area of the Wailing Wall. This was the second attack in 24 hours. It bodes a summer of discontent and violence.

Too quiet

 

Quiet Damascus Gate

Yesterday morning at the 1st Muslim morning call to prayer, a 19 yr old arab stabbed 2 Israeli police just 20 m from my house. I heard the police sirens but I didn't know why. The newspapers did not report anything except one ... which I found later in the afternoon. So as the weather warms up, so do the violence. Another anxious summer awaits us.

Quiet fruit stalls

Damascus Gate was rather quiet as a result of the morning's attack. Police have been everywhere in the Old City. Just outside our house there were a dozen soldiers. It's tense. Many young people were stopped and questioned. At the checkpoints entering and leaving Palestine, Israeli police were extra strict.  Even the open market at Musrara was very quiet. Usually at the weekend, crowds would go to buy the fruit and veggies by the bulk, which cost a lot less. But last night very few people were around. Even some shops decided to close earlier. The usual stock of fresh seafood from Tel Aviv were only half sold as many remained in the displays.

Unsold fish

I'm trying to settle as much work as possible these 3 weeks because I don't intend to work during Holy Week. This year it coincides with the Orthodox Holy Week as well as the jewish Passover. Muslim Ramadan is a week before. So the Old City will be packed with people. Police have warned high security will be maintained until after Ramadan, so movement will not be easy. I want to have a quiet Easter so I may move out of Jerusalem for another monastery. Enough of these violence. It makes walking in the streets feel risky and dangerous.

Siu-mai

Homemade siumai

The Lenten rigours have started. Saturday towards midnight we go to the Holy Sepulchre to pray the Office of Readings and then make a procession around the Empty Tomb. It's broadcast live so you can watch it on the computer. Go to the Youtube channel of Christian Media Center. It starts at 11.40pm every Saturday.

The weather has been erratic these few days. First its warm and sunny, then it starts to rain and gets very cold. You never know what to wear when you go out. And its perfect weather to get sick.

Yesterday Bro Mark made siu-mai. It was very good.He made them with beef since pork is rare and very expensive. I ate them all. It's such a treat ... to break from my diet. But no more red meat for the next weeks. Docs insist I eat only white meat or I'll get sick again.

Right now police are using water cannons to disperse rioting ultra-orthodox jews protesting against compulsory military service. They've blocked roads at the City center, causing traffic jams and stopping the tram service from working.

Rain again

Spring veggies

 It rained all night and the wind was very strong. All night I could hear the howling outside. Doors and windows were rattling all night as well. It's probably the last rainfall before the dry weather starts. It didn't as much as last winter, or as much as we wanted ... but it's better than nothing. Let's hope there'll be no drought this year. Prices of veggies will rise ... and they're already very expensive as it is. I think when things get worse, people will go to Palestine and buy food there. It's a lot cheaper. But Israel doesn't allow Palestinian products to be brought into Israel, so if the soldiers catch you with them, they get confiscated and thrown away at the checkpoints.

Yesterday I fasted from sunrise to sunset and it wasn't anything extraordinary. That's practically my daily routine as I usually eat only one meal when I get home from work at 7pm. I may eat drink a cup of coffee from breakfast and rarely a sandwich. So if that's fasting, then I'm fasting everyday.

Teams from the National Library of France and the EAPI are here to digitalize our ancient manuscripts. I'm busy bringing the manuscripts out for them to work on. And there's class to teach as well. I'll have to juggle my timetable to fit in everything. It's very tiring.

Ash Wednesday

 It's Ash Wednesday today. We're all fasting. Here's a nice advice from The SHepherd of Hermas, a 1st century AD christian book.

“Fasting … is very good, provided the commandments of the Lord be observed … First of all, be on your guard against every evil word, and every evil desire, and purify your heart from all the vanities of this world. If you guard against these things, your fasting will be perfect."

The Shepherd of Hermas

Feast

Crowds waiting for a fight

 Yesterday was the last day of February. It was also the muslim feast of Muhammad's ascension into heaven which is believed to have taken place here in Jerusalem 200m away from my room ... which is the Dome of the Rock mosque. Muslims believe Muhammed flew on a winged horse from Arabia to Jerusalem that night, the journey known as the Isra ... and then ascended into heaven known as the Miraj. 

There were thousands of muslims from not only the entire country but also muslim pilgrims from french and english speaking countries. I was warned by many people to walk pass Damascus Gate as there'd be fighting and clashes with the police. In fact after the noon day prayers there were clashes. Police sirens were wailing for several hours and sound of stun grenades exploding as well. 

Mounted police on standby

Later at 7pm I walked home and the area was swarming with people. Crowds of youth were hanging around the police posts. Others stood opposite the road at the railings. Everyone was waiting for a riot to start. As I reached Zedekiah's cave which is 30 meters away from Damascus Gate, a stun grenade exploded. Crowds rushed toward the Gate, shouting and jeering. I just continued walking away. Too old for such excitement anymore. But I did stay a few extra minutes to take photos.

The weather has warmed up alot. Max is 17 degrees today. Tomorrow is Ash Wednesday and soon it's Easter and the beginning of summer. Time flies. I'd like to plan what to do for summer holidays ... but like the past 20 years ... they'll never come to pass. I'd love to bring Buddy and JJ to Jaffa and see the sea and feel the sea breeze. Dream on. The pandemic is not over and though today the Covid State of Emergency is over and no more restrictions or Green Pass are needed, I still must be careful about infections.