Winds of Change

The Arab League calls for Syria to stop the killing.

King Abdullah of Jordan says that Assad should step down.

A huge explosion in Iran gives the international media much to talk about

and new blasts are reported in Lebanon.

Once again Hamas and Fatah are to form a unity government

and rockets and missiles are fired at Israeli citizens in the south.

In the Middle East spring and summer are over,

but what are the ‘winds of change’ in the Arab world?

 On Monday the skies were clear and there was no wind as the flag of Uganda

was raised at Beit Hanasi, the Israeli President’s official residence,

for an official visit of the Prime Minister of Uganda.

   Then the rain started in Jerusalem,

and it was time to cover the bike seat

and cover the hat.

With the change in weather, umbrellas were brought out for sale.

One lone, wet sign remained from the Jerusalem housing protest.

Mid-day the winds were still light, only one upside down umbrella was spotted.

The on again and off again rain and wind caught many people by surprise.

Some lucky folks were able to share an umbrella and stay dry.

Those trying to get their Rav-Kav fare card for the light rail train huddled under

the large Citi-Pass umbrella as they waited in line.

Cafes were crowded only under an umbrella.

The falafel shop off King George Street was dry, if you sat close to the wall.

After the nearly summer-like weather over the weekend,

the cold wind, heavy rains, thunder and flooding at night were indeed a change.

  Tuesday morning the sun was out and the sky was blue…but the winds were cold.

Time to dress the baby warmly for a bike ride.

Health care crisis, doctors’ protests, social justice, higher electric bills,

and protest posters of women’s faces…all reflect ‘winds of change’.

How good it was to see full racks of suffganiot,

 familiar and comforting on the Jerusalem streets.

Winter is coming, but that means that Chanukah is only a month away.

Not this year in Jerusalem

 Jerusalem turned pink for the Komen Race for the Cure in 2010,

 in many places it is an annual event to raise money for breast cancer research.

Last year’s race took place on a beautiful day in Jerusalem.

Thousands of people came from around the world,

hundreds of Arab women came from all over Israel to participate.

This year the race was not run, but last year was nice enough to see again.

Click on Archive on the right for October 2010,

then click Race for the Cure.

Not this year…

but maybe next year in Jerusalem,

or better yet a cure.

Israeli Apartheid?

Israeli Apartheid?

Saudi Arabia bans protests, Turkey locks up journalists,

Iran and Libya kill their opponents,

Egypt killed  protesters, Syria kills hundreds every day.

Haneen Zoabi, an Arab woman is an elected member of the Israeli Knesset

and has led anti-Israel protests.

Israeli apartheid?

Her actions would never be tolerated in any of the surrounding countries,

but Zoabi’s anti-government pieces are routinely published

 in main stream Jerusalem newspapers and supported by the courts.

 While Saudi Arabian women are forbidden to drive a car,

in Jerusalem, many Arab women take driving lessons

and sit where they want on public buses.

Arab school girls

School girls are not afraid to share the same streets,

Arab girls in uniforms in Old City

no matter what uniforms they wear,  and go on to attend Israeli universities

Arab girl head covered working in Israeli hospital

and find work in the medical professions in Israeli hospitals.

Muslim woman walking in Old City

Arab women walk alone

Arab woman alone in Old city

through the streets of the Old City

Arab women image. Arab women in Jerusalem

and in all the neighborhoods

Palestinian woman shopping

around

Arab women image. Arab women in Jerusalem

Jerusalem, Israel

Muslim woman walking in Old City wearing hijab

dressed in clothing

Arab women shopping in Jerusalem

of all types

Palestinian woman shopping

and colors.

Palestinian woman shopping

Often Arab women shop

in Mamilla Mall,

Palestinian woman, shopping in Machane yehuda

in the Machane Yehuda Market, the shuk,

Palestinian woman shopping for shoes

on Jaffa Street,

Palestinian woman shopping with children in Jerusalem

King George Street,

Muslim woman shopping

and in Talpiot.

Muslim women eating in Jerusalem

They can eat in a street cafe or restaurant

Arab man and woman holding hands in public

or walk with a male companion.

Muslim woman with children wailing wall plaza

With young children

Muslim woman shopping alone

or alone,

Muslim women walking in Old City

Arab women are not afraid or forbidden to move around freely.

Israeli apartheid?