politics – Page 5 – The Real Jerusalem Streets

Protesting the Histadrut Protest

March 1, 2015rjstreets

It is Israeli election season.

Again.

And way too soon for most of the people that I know.

Anglo Voters are not being ignored for a change.

Among the numerous election banners,

was this sign, “Us or Him”

opposing Bibi for Prime Minister

posted across from his house in Jerusalem, Israel.

Mostly I have tried to avoid sharing the unpleasantness.

But today a large Histadrut rally was taking place,

in front of the Prime Minister’s official residence,

and streets were closed off for more than two hours.

These men were blowing loudly on their whistles.

Jerusalem Council member Pepe Alalu

of Meretz political party

was on his way to join the bus loads of protesters.

I was on my way back home from a meeting

after the protest rally ended,

and I saw this sign by a trash can,

as bus loads of people wearing white Histadrut hats left.

Freedom of speech.

Protest away, as loud as you want,

block traffic and inconvenience others,

but how dare they leave our streets lined with liter!

At least one person got employment from today’s event.

Look who was cleaning up afterwards,

a Jewish man wearing zizit under his yellow safety vest.

Bibi was not even around for the event,

as he was on his way to the airport and his flight to the US.

His parting remarks:

“A few days before the Fast of Esther,

I am leaving for Washington on a fateful, even historic, mission.

I feel that I am the emissary of all Israelis,

even those who disagree with me, of the entire Jewish People.

I am deeply and genuinely concerned for the security of all Israelis,

for the fate of the nation, and for the fate of our people

and I will do my utmost to ensure our future.”

At least the Histadrut could clean up after themselves.

Ready for Hanukkah or Chanukah in Jerusalem

December 15, 2014rjstreets

What a week this has been.

From as far away as Sydney, Australia,

we hear that an armed man “claiming political motivations”

took hostages,

sometimes

something as simple as the cloud formations

against a blue sky can be appreciated.

Last Friday, coming from the Gush to Jerusalem, Israel,

we stopped for a traffic light.

The same as we have done many times.

That signal was installed after many traffic accidents.

We saw this police vehicle blocking our view,

and we heard a man scream, then he was down on the road.

As the security forces arrived in force,

it was clear this was no simple accident.

Acid (yes, vinegar is an acid!) was splashed on Israelis

by a terrorist and he had run to this spot.

I had been looking for cars involved,

but it was stopped a few meters away.

We got through quickly,

as the traffic in the other direcion stopped and backed up.

I sit here now,

watching a live news feed of a cafe in Australia,

under threat by a person with an ISIS flag.

We cannot be sure when or what will happen next!

Meanwhile,

חנוכה

Hanukkah is coming.

After finally deciding to spell it as spell check goes,

the Government Press Office is using Chanukah this year.

Oh well, people are getting their chanukiot, menorahs

ready to light.

As always I love the streets lights,

and signs filling the streets.

“A Great miracle happened here.”

The school holiday is shortened this year,

but the school extravaganza productions

are bigger and better and longer than ever.

Suffganiot, millions of all types of donuts and

fried foods will be consumed over the eight nights.

But also strawberry season has begun

and the markets are filled with the sweet red berries.

Happy Hanukkah,

Chanukah sameach

however you spell it,

the first candle is tomorrow night.

Highs and Lows Felt in Jerusalem

November 5, 2014rjstreets

Last week was a week of good and bad news,

now it looks like this is one of highs and lows.

Real Jerusalem Streets is not just about the good stuff,

but what is really happening.

On days like this it is hard to know where to start

and what to post, there is so much to say.

Arab media has been inciting with scare headlines

like “Settlers are Storming Al-Aqsa” for months.

First of all no one is “storming”

if anything a few are walking slowly and under threat.

Jews have to be careful how they move their lips,

as no Jewish prayer is allowed.

MK Shuli Mualem went on the Temple Mount and was assaulted.

Today there was a deadly attack against people waiting for the light rail.

The border police officer murdered in the terror attack in Jerusalem

was named Chief Inspector Jidaan Asad,

he was 38 years old and had a young son.

The terrorist who drove the van into the crowd had published posts

glorifying previous attacks against Jews on his Facebook page.

There was to be a day of rage on Friday,

but the heavy rain this week has kept many inside.

On Shabbat afternoon a huge rainbow arched over the Old City.

Stone-throwing children have been a problem for months,

maybe now police will try and put and end to it.

There were new protest signs this week.

But the Mayor would rather you hear about

the many artistic and cultural events,

including another Einstein on AZZA this Friday.

Streets will be shut for university lecturers to hold forth to the public – for free.

But my high of the week was the Masa Israel Journey Mega-event,

in the Jerusalem Convention Center’s main auditorium.

Certainly it also was a high for the Prime Minister.

Thousands of young people from around the world,

some dancing in the aisles,

excited and happy

to be in Israel for a year volunteering.

School trips to Jerusalem from around Israel have been canceled,

but if you want to end on a high note,

check out this post from Israellycool

earlier in the week and watch the short video at the end,

עם ישראל חי

Am Yisrael Chai