Illegal Building

Two days of Rosh Hashanah followed by Shabbat meant three days

 with no internet or news updates, so while there were many reports

of the Quartet’s disgust with Israel for building in Gilo,

I missed seeing any mention of their dismay with the Palestinian Authority as

 Kassam rockets were fired from Gaza into Israel on the first day of Rosh Hashanah

and the Israeli air force had to preempt another terrorist strike on the second day.

Three days of  holiday meals and city garbage bins were over flowing.

After Shabbat, people could be found walking or jogging very late at night.

Changing the clocks back to standard time provided an extra hour to exercise,

but with the early sunset, there is not as much time to play outside after school.

 US Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta is visiting Jerusalem;

I wonder if  he noticed these “buildings” in Gan Sacher, Sacher Park?

While Tel Aviv has taken down its “tent cities'”

in this Jerusalem park one can find groups of tents,

a private “suburban” site,

and an open kitchen area.

Today a couple was moving a couch out of the park,

but some of the “buildings” look like they are ready for the Sukkot holiday.

Is there another “tent city” filling this parking lot?

No…these are supplies to build sukkot for the upcoming holiday,

when thousands of illegal “buildings” will be popping up in every open space.

For the Rosh Hashanah holiday, all regular soldiers were all on active duty,

with many stationed far away from home.

Thank you to the IDF for making it safe

 for the rest of us to celebrate all the holidays with our families.


8 thoughts on “Illegal Building

  • October 4, 2011 at 6:17 pm
    Permalink

    How sad it is, that the world refuses to see.
    Admittedly, Israeli timing is a bit “off key” when announcing plans for new buildings in Gilo and other areas. Israel’s supporters are very insulted, probably not that Israel plans to build 1,600 apartments, but that every time, Israel does manage to take one step forward in public relations especially with the US, we bungle the job by doing dufka. Israel could actually wait with these announcements, and they seem to always come at a very fragile moment and Israel manages to alienate its friends – whether Israel is right or wrong to build is not really the issue, but the timing of the announcement is.
    Chug Samach to All Am Israel, Gmar Chatima Tova. Peace and tolerance for all peoples of the region.

    Reply
  • October 5, 2011 at 8:21 am
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    I enjoyed the quiet from the media and the prayers in our shul. Shanah tovah, gmar chatima tova.

    ps I saw that the horse park is clean and empty of demonstrators finally.

    Reply
    • October 5, 2011 at 8:33 am
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      I do not like that the main stream media ignores the constant attacks along the Gaza border, and only act when Israel finally retaliates.
      Yes, it has been clean for awhile, there are photos of the Gan Hasoos in an earlier post
      chatima tova

      Reply
  • October 31, 2011 at 4:38 pm
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    Hey there! Do you use Twitter? I’d like to follow you if that would be okay. I’m undoubtedly enjoying your blog and look forward to new posts.

    Reply
  • November 6, 2011 at 5:11 pm
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    I watched this interivew on Israeli TV Channel 2 about two weeks ago, and for those who missed it, I would like to share it with all of you…..

    By Al Arabiya with Agencies
    DUBAI
    The Palestinian President, in a remarkable assessment delivered on Israeli TV, said Friday the Arab world erred in rejecting the United Nations’ 1947 plan to partition Palestine into a Palestinian and a Jewish state.

    The Palestinian and Arab refusal to accept a U.N. plan to partition the then-British-controlled mandate of Palestine sparked widespread fighting, then Arab military intervention after Israel declared independence the following year. The Arabs lost the war.

    “It was our mistake. It was an Arab mistake as a whole,” Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas told Channel 2 TV in a rare interview to the Israeli media. “But do they (the Israelis) punish us for this mistake after 64 years?”

    Abbas also addressed his negotiations with former Israeli leader Ehud Olmert, now in the spotlight because of the publication of the memoirs of former U.S. Secretary of State, Condoleezza Rice.

    Rice backs Israel’s account that Olmert made a peace offer that was rejected, while Palestinians say that talks never actually reached a point where a firm offer was on the table.

    Abbas claimed that he and Olmert were “very close” to reaching a peace agreement in 2008, before the Israeli leader left office under the cloud of corruption allegations.

    He confirmed Olmert’s account that the Israeli leader was prepared to withdraw from 93.5 percent of the West Bank. The Palestinians, Abbas added, responded by offering to let Israel retain 1.9 percent of the West Bank.

    My observation of his remark “But do they (the Israelis) punish us for this mistake after 64 years?”
    is that Israel has been forced to live and die by choices (or mistakes) made by the Arabs ever since the Peel Commission of 1937 and the 1947 UN resolution.

    Quote from Abbas “It was a very good opportunity,” he said. “If he (Olmert) stayed two, three months, I believe in that time we could have concluded an agreement.”

    Why would Arabs pin the whole of peace negotiations on one man (Olmert)? if they were serious about making peace, they could have made peace with anyone else if they were that genuine.

    Should we, Israel, demand an apology from the Palestinians for their part in wars and atrocities caused by them, forcing Israel to retaliate, leading them and us to our present situation, where they are “allowed” to fabricate history and events to suit themselves, and to alienate Israel from the world.

    Reply
    • November 6, 2011 at 7:03 pm
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      Recent firebomb attacks on Israeli cars on roads just outside of Jerusalem are not a sign of peace.
      Nearly 8000 tons of goods went into Gaza from Israel yesterday, as the potentially murderous rocket attempts continue.
      Apology? just stop trying to kill us would be good!

      Reply
  • Pingback: 11 Scenes of Erev Yom Kippur in Jerusalem | The Real Jerusalem Streets

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