Day of Horrors

This morning - very early - a terrorist rammed a hijacked taxi into a security check-point in front of a club, wounding 8 people and stabbing many others. http://www.haaretz.com/news/diplomacy-defense/terror-attack-in-tel-aviv-leaves-eight-wounded-1.381250

Then just a few hours ago a woman was stabbed to death in a 5 star hotel.  http://www.haaretz.com/news/national/australian-tourist-found-stabbed-to-death-in-tel-aviv-hotel-1.381357

Warnings of further terrorist attacks were sounded by the Min. of Defense. http://www.haaretz.com/news/diplomacy-defense/barak-gaza-groups-planning-new-major-terror-attack-on-israel-1.381345

And tomorrow is Eid il Fitr - the last day of Ramadan where thousands of muslims are expected to come to the AlAqsa Mosque in Jerusalem. Security is super tight. And tensions are running to snapping point.

All we can do is pray that reason over-rides emotions.

3am Saturday

 Dome of the Rock at 3am, with crowds around

3am and the incessant, rhythmic chanting of the muslims at the Al Aqsa mosque opposite woke me up. Went up to the terrace to see what was happening. Thousands of muslim worshippers were praying from the mosque all through the esplanade to the Dome of the Rock sanctuary (the Golden Dome mosque that covers the rock where Abraham tried to sacrifice Isaac and where Muhammad ascended to heaven).

By 3.30am the crowds began to spill out to the streets, on the way home to eat their meal before the fast begins at 4.15am. From the terrace I can smell barbeque. Every kitchen is busy with activity. A woman pushing a wheelchair was hurrying home. Four Israeli soldiers weaved through the crowd in the street below, guns in hand. Youths smoke and laugh loudly. Shops selling food down the street are doing brisk business. It's the last Saturday before Eid il Fitr - the end of Ramadan. Just 2 more days.

The cannon will soon be fired and rock the entire City, signaling the beginning of the fast for today. Just for 2 more days.

Immense crowds

Crowds walking down Nablus Road to the Old City

The crowds that came to the Al Aqsa Mosque to pray today were huge. Traffic was diverted to peripheral roadds because the main road leading to Damacus Gate and Herod's Gate were blocked with people. Till noon prayers, only men over 45 yrs were allowed. Later for the afternoon prayers at 4.30pm the ban was lifted and men below 45 yrs were also allowed. The crowds grew even larger. Fortunately no incidents occurred. The only violence took place at Qalandya north of Jerusalem.

Last Friday of Ramadan

The bombing of/from Gaza has intensified in the last 24 hours.  http://www.haaretz.com/news/diplomacy-defense/tensions-flare-as-barrage-of-rockets-strikes-southern-israel-1.380697  Both Israel and Gaza have suffered casualties. And this does not seem to end ... not least as today is the last Friday of Ramadan. In view of this conflict, the Old City of Jerusalem will be closed again to men under 45 yrs. and this of course will only cause more hatred as these young men cannot pray in the Mosque. A vicious cycle. I think things will only get worse as September draws near and the declaration of Palestinian statehood is touted.

Healthwise I've been very fatigued. Unable to walk any distance. Perhaps it's the heat. I just feel so drawn. And the tensions around are not helping. Have stayed in bed the whole day yesterday. One good news is the doctors' strike has ended.  http://www.haaretz.com/news/national/israeli-doctors-strike-finally-ends-after-five-months-as-landmark-deal-inked-1.380681  That means I can go consult the doctor and see what the next step is for my health.

Wake up!

This photo says it all. No, it's not a morning call ... it's a protest sign in a park near the Great Synagogue by the tent protesters. Well, Jerusalem certainly woke up early this morning ... not because of the Muslim Muzzein who started singing over the megaphone at 4.30am but the cacophony of bells being clashed at the Holy Sepulchre by the Greek Orthodox Christians. It lasted a full 33 minutes ... the clash (literally because Greek Orthodox bells do not have tongues that swing but are struck/hammered by hand from the outside; and their bells are not tuned) of bells started at 5am. I wonder what happened. It certainly caused a racket that woke the living and the dead.

And waking up has certainly been a problem for me this week ... a dreadful fatigue has overtaken me. I need to rest a hour or so in the morning and another hour in the afternoon. And yesterday when I needed to go to Ratisbonne which is 2 km away, I found out I couldn't even walk at normal pace. Even 80 yr. old women with walking sticks were overtaking me.

Sadly the Israeli Court is going ahead with deportations of foreigners' children born in Israel. It's a cleansing that will spread its grasp not just on children but eventually adults as well. http://www.haaretz.com/news/national/israeli-court-rules-to-deport-4-year-old-daughter-of-foreign-workers-1.380631 

Lost in space

Have been feeling very confused and disoriented yesterday and today. Maybe it's the heat - 33 degrees and very dry. And of course there were the sleepless nights because the muslims celebrate their meal till 1am and wake up to restart their meal at 3am; with fireworks, chants, drumming.

This morning Majed's whole family came over - Majed is our doorman. There was his wife, his 5 sons Majd, Amir, Yoyo, Hmoud and Adam. We played around in the courtyard and had some fun with mosquito larvae and flowers ... don't ask me how or why. Then Jeremy came with a group. He's a british Israeli guide whose warmth and sincerity is always a pleasure to encounter. He stood at the gate, grinned ever so broadly and stretched out his hands to hug me. It's been like 4 months since we last saw each other because I moved out of Jerusalem. It was really great to see him again. That sorta settled my confused and disoriented brain ... with something familiar that I can anchor onto.

Am trying to get back to reading up and writing my thesis. But the brain is not up to it ... will have to force myself. It's like the brain is lost in space ... floating somewhere out there. I think it's the lack of sleep and probably food. I'm taking massive doses of antacid because I think I have ulcers in the stomach. Am beginning to eat a bit of food. Here's an example of my lunch - rice in yoghurt, fuul (Fava beans) and chopped ham. It's got the carbos, protein and other stuff that I lack in my body. Hopefully that'll bring the brains back to earth.

Choo choo

The Jerusalem Light Rail is finally running! After 7 long years of mismanagement, embezzlement and pure chaos. Now its running 2 weeks free of charge. Crowds of families wait eagerly at the stations for the free ride .... typical.

The City is still tense though not as before. Next Tuesday night is the last day of Ramadan. Expect some happenings! I want to get away.



The weather is 33 degrees today, sunny and dry. Lips are cracking. Everyone is shielding themselves from the blazing sun with hats and veils. I guess a ride in the train would just be great ... it's air-conditioned.