Tisha B'Av

Jews praying the Book of Lamentation
some sitting on the floor

Yesterday was as peaceful as Sunday ... at least till the early afternoon. Then Police started arriving at Damascus Gate in droves. That's because yesterday evening was the start of the jewish Tisha B'Av ... the commemoration of the destruction of both Jewish Temples, once in 587 BC and the 2nd time in 70 AD .... coincidentally on the same day 500 years apart. The Book of Lamentations is recited in soft solemn tones ... usually seated on the floor, without shoes. traditional jews would fast the whole day and not shave nor bathe. The reason for this penance? The early rabbis taught that the Temple was destroyed because the Jews had sinned. Today all entertainment and food shops must close. No one should be enjoying himself ... it is a solemn penitential day. In fact the police have blocked a main road leading toward the Ultra-Orthodox neighbourhood of Mea Shearim with a container truck ... that way no cars or traffic can pass by the neighbourhood that is in penance.

Container truck
blocking road

Last night while coming home I saw a large group of jews, most seated on the ground, at Zion Square (the centre of Jerusalem's eateries) reciting the Book of Lamentation. Police have cordoned off East Jerusalem from Palm Plaza onwards.
Border Police were everywhere ... but I saw more plainclothes police. They pistols tucked at the waist is a dead giveaway. There were male and female plainclothes police .... all mingling with crowds inside the Old City. This operation is serious.

Newspapers are saying that hundreds of Jews will try to enter the Al Aqsa compound today ... they believe the ancient Temple once stood on the place where the golden Dome of the Rock now stands. I am sure there will be clashes since only a couple of days ago the muslim riots took place there over sovereignty of that Holy Site. Enough of violence ... we don't want chaos and injuries that disturb our neighbourhood. Hope today will pass peacefully.

Peaceful Sunday

Ice cream and grapes

Today was very peaceful by recent standards. Police presence was still heavy but there were no mass demonstrations in the Al Aqsa compound nor marches in our streets. Perhaps the weather had a role in this ... it was over 30 degrees and the sun was relentless.

We felt a lot less tension too in the house. We could eat lunch and dinner without hearing protest chants, tear gas exploding behind our house .... It felt so peaceful we treated ourselves to ice cream ... and I added chilled grapes to it. It tasted so nice in this heat ... and this new lull in the neighbourhood.

East Jerusalem's
main artery
Salahadin Street is
peaceful

I spent most of the day cleaning up room. There's lots of books to pack and move to the other library ... and the dust from the summer sandstorms needed to be removed from everywhere ... from window sills to shelves. I also changed a bit of the aquarium water ... haven't done it in several month now but the water is still very clear. It's well stabilised and self-sustaining so it doesn't need much care.

As tensions in the Al Aqsa clear, leftwing newspapers now focus on the injustices in the villages. See this report and video about Hebron:  https://www.facebook.com/btselem/videos/10154746383076570/?hc_ref=ART1jjK12bfM41u5iI88-JbX8aTzA4RFS_6Htli0QyVy5rRHFgrRy3sfe9kjSeTbQfU&pnref=story

The violence in Jaffa seems to have also died down ... or at least the newspapers are not reporting anything today. Instead all have focussed on the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate's response to the rising criticism by Israelis over its sale of land. They offer the other side of the story.  http://www.timesofisrael.com/church-land-sales-to-anonymous-buyers-set-homeowners-on-edge/
http://www.timesofisrael.com/amid-outcry-church-defends-its-sales-of-land-in-jerusalem-jaffa-caesarea/

And a horror story straight out from sci-fi ... Facebook's A1 programme began to dialogue with each other when no one commanded it. It had taken a life of its own ... Facebook was said to have immediately shut down the programme. Is artificial intelligence taking over the world? Not sure if it's fake news but read it  http://www.jerusalemonline.com/high-tech/facebook-ai-program-shut-down-after-bots-invent-a-language-of-their-own-30054

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.