Jerusalem – Page 200 – The Real Jerusalem Streets

Negotiations, negotiations

December 1, 2009rjstreets

After ten years of negotiations,

environmentalists and common sense have triumphed over a developer’s plans.

The Valley of the Gazelles is to remain a green area,

just a little too late for the wildlife that once lived there.

How many more years of negotiations will it take to develop the park?

All of Jeruasalem wins that this central,

last undeveloped spot near the Jerusalem Botanical Gardens

will remain as a public, natural space.

Negotiations for the release of Gilad Shalit,

the captured Israeli soldier, are still the “buzz” in the news.

Everyone wants Gilad Shalit home;

no one envies his parents in their quest for his safe return.

The question in these protracted negotiations is-at what cost?

How many terrorists are to be released for one captured Israeli soldier?

Those in Jerusalem passing the tent set up by Shalit supporters

near the Prime Minister’s residence cannot help but count the days.

Volunteers, preparing yellow ribbons,

wish him home for a very happy Hanukah.

With the Muslim feast Id al-Adha this past week,

talks have again slowed down,

so the press can only guess the outcome of negotiations.

But from the other side of the street,

relatives of those murdered do not want

to see their children’s convicted murderers

free to kill again.

Many Jerusalemites were surprised this week to discover

that the Gilo neighborhood with 8,200 households

would be called a settlement.

The settlement freeze announced by Prime Minister Netanyahu

should be a step towards renewed negotiations with PA.

Meanwhile, on the streets…

On Saturday night, Jerusalem Mayor Nir Barkat

stated that Jerusalem should not be up for negotiation.

In the Middle East negotiations usually mean ‘win or lose.’

His vision is a united city open to all,

” divided cities fail,” he said.

Not up for negotiations,

Government limousines waited over an hour

while the President of Costa Rica Oscar Sanchez visited

the Kotel, the Western Wall on Friday and …we still need more rain.

Updated: March 19, 2015,

as the Valley of Gazelles is ready to open,

Gilad Shalit is long home,

and Bibi is re-elected.

And those negotiations with PA?

Sharing Spaces in Jerusalem

November 17, 2009October 9, 2019rjstreets

Over and over I have been asked why I started doing this photo blog…it was this scene.

The Bell Park in Jerusalem April, 2009

After I took this photo from just outside the Bell Park, I walked the short distance to the Kotel, the Western Wall. I could not get near, as police security barriers were already set up in early afternoon to keep everyone away, even though the Remembrance Day ceremony was not to take place for hours.

The photo I saw published in the newspapers was of one of men (Arabs?) behind yellow police tape. It seems the papers, certainly in Israel, publish what supports their agenda. I decided instead of being angry, to take candid photos, real street scenes and share them. My hope is that people will appreciate seeing the Real Jerusalem Streets, often the other side of the street from the media, and will share with their friends.

With President Peres in Brazil,

the Prime Minister in United States and France,

and many Israeli officials overseas,

the streets were a bit quieter this week.

The many U.S. congressmen, former President Bill Clinton

and Saban Forum delegates at the King David Hotel

seem to move around in big vans, but with a lot less noise.

The real Jerusalem streets are often traffic nightmares, many of them with the space for donkeys or camels, not the large vehicles of today. Pray, you never have a medical emergency in Jerusalem, often even an ambulance cannot get the needed space to move.

Space is always an issue, inside and out. Coming from a ten-room house to a four-room apartment here was quite an adjustment, utilizing every bit of space is a must. Putting a fish restaurant on top of a garage, what use of space!

The Ethiopian community’s holiday,

Sigd is now a national holiday. Thousands of people and buses crowded into Jerusalem for Monday’s celebration.

Amazing event!

After the cold and wet weather, we had a few hot days. People came out in droves, even the ants came back from their winter hiding places…and last night more much-needed rain.

Presidents

October 27, 2009February 25, 2020rjstreets

The President’s Conference for Tomorrow was held on October 20-22, 2009.

There were circling helicopters, flashing blue lights and sirens at times,

but most of the city was not involved unless you worked for a top tier hotel or

at the Jerusalem Convention Center, or had the job to hang the signs.

Last year, when President George Bush was in Jerusalem, street closings were the norm,

there was no way to not know he was around.

Sunday morning radio reported riots near the Kotel, the Western Wall.

There were reported injuries and arrests, but……..

see for yourself the real Jerusalem streets leading up to

and around the Old City early Sunday afternoon.

Thousands of tourists had no idea that there was any reason to be concerned.

Near the Kotel, Western Wall entrance

and inside at the Kotel Plaza, all appeared quite normal.

People strolled the alleyways as usual.

More presidents with the Board of Governors of the Jewish Agency also meeting.

and more signs…

At The Hebrew University, the Truman Institute hosted sessions,

“15 Years Since the Peace Treaty Between Israel and Jordan.”

Not open to disagreement, it has been 15 years,

General Mansour Abu Rashid did offer a glass of water to fellow speaker Israeli Supreme Court Justice Elyakim Rubenstein and Harry S. Truman was a President.

Warm greetings,

and signing the guest book.

However, Updated: February 25, 2020, Israel and the US have had new Presidents, and 25 years after agreements with Jordan, perhaps another few glasses of cold water.