A Week in Jerusalem: One City, Many Stories

From joyful graduations to passionate protests, high-level conferences to returning tourists, the Jerusalem streets were anything but quiet this week. Every corner pulsed with energy and sometimes a volatile rhythm. Here’s a glimpse of what is happening on the Jerusalem streets.

Remember when the Holyland was the talk of the town, towering over the Jerusalem streets?

Now it seems that towers over the Jerusalem streets are becoming the norm.

Too often lately, it seems these ‘cats’ are taking over the Jerusalem streets.

As more and more take over the skyline, the traffic can become a gridlock nightmare. Sunday morning was a pleasant surprise, with some streets not backed up.

Today is part of the Muslim celebration Eid al-Adha. Begun on Friday night, and there are fewer buses, taxis, and cars, and very little construction. Jerusalem sounds quieter today.

The Israel Conference on Transportation, Traffic, and Parking is at the Vert Hotel on June 16-17. It will be interesting to see what they come up with other than a lot of speeches.

 

The annual Eli Hurvitz Economic Conference, sponsored by the Israel Democratic Institute, was held again at the Orient Isrotel Hotel.

Each year, over two days, the conference presents a long list of speakers.

One presenter this year was Dr Eyal Hulata, Israel’s National Security Advisor and Head of the country’s National Security Council from 2021-2023

The panels and speakers elaborate on the Israeli economy with words and graphs.

The head of the Bank of Israel is Professor Amir Yaron, who was a featured speaker again.

Two years ago, when the new Finance Minister Betzalel Smotrich tried to present his prepared speech, the room erupted in a protest. He was not on the program this year.

This year was an interesting contrast. Mansour Abbas, a current member of the Knesset, representing the United Arab List, was received with respect by the attentive audience.

Protests have become the norm on the Jerusalem streets. Most evenings, a few women stand across from Beit Hanasi, the Israeli President’s Residence, in a quiet protest.

Over 610 days, is there anyone who does not want the remaining 55 hostages home – and now?

Stickers of fallen soldiers are pasted onto elevators and along the Jerusalem streets. The loss of eight more young IDF soldiers announced killed over the weekend in Gaza brings the number close to 870.

As the days go on, signs are up in Jerusalem thanking and loving the families of reserve soldiers.

And in June, it’s time for Hebrew Book Week, June 10 – 21, 2025.

This year, with much of First Station under construction, the annual popular event has been moved to Kikar Safra, Safra Square.

On the Jerusalem streets, this week, adding to the usual traffic and closures for protests, the President of the Argentine Republice Javier Milei is to be in Jerusalem, Israel. He is to speak at a special session in the Knesset on Wednesday.

The third Pulse of Israel Conference at the Menachem Begin Center is on June 17th and also online.

As usual, much is happening on the Jerusalem streets.