The Real Jerusalem Streets

As members of the Knesset and government were engaged in loud verbal discussions,

the real Jerusalem streets responded to the seemingly endless negative international press

 by proceeding with two annual events.

Hebrew Book Week opened in  the Liberty Bell Park .

 

 

For the next ten days thousands of books

will be displayed and sold.

 Earlybirds beat the huge crowds that attend every year.

People of all sizes and ages will come to the event to see the vast selection.

 As libraries and publishing houses around the world are closing down, this event seems all the more remarkable.

 

Nearby traffic was being diverted.

Streets were closed to traffic and bags were searched because

  in Gan Ha’aztmaut, the Independence Park, the annual  parade of old tractors was beginning,

Thousands of people turned out for the agricultural community’s Salute to Jerusalem,

which this year honored 100 years of the kibbutz movement.

The number of Israeli flags was overwhelming,

 and there was more than just tractors and flags on the streets.

One of the many speakers was Noam Shalit, father of captive soldier Gilad Shalit.

  

 

Even though he was late, Education Minister Gideon Saar stopped and posed on his way to the podium.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This event is popular with young families, as bus loads of people from around the country came to Jerusalem, but

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

this  year it also became a rally in support of Israel, its army and soldiers.

Marchers went through the center of Jerusalem and ended up in Gan Sacher

where loud music continued until late into the night.

The celebrations ended with a fireworks display at 10:30 pm.

It was a beautiful and colorful day enjoyed by tens of thousands of people, no threats, no riots…

not news worthy.

There were more security concerns this week than usual, 

beginning with a large civil defense drill held in all parts of Israel.

On Wednesday morning at 11 am, the sound of a siren alerted Jerusalem’s citizens to find shelter.

Visitors and those riding in vehicles were instructed to go about their business.

 

  Those people in government buildings, schools, and  businesses may have complied,

but many citizens did not take this drill seriously, as shown by this woman who was hanging out the wash.

 

Security is always a concern, with extra measures for

 

         special events near the Kotel, the Western Wall

or when the mayor is to attend a parade on King George Street.

Buses are regularly used to block streets for major events

but a bus below and a blimp above is unusual.

Traffic is often blocked while a suspicious package is checked.

Closed sidewalks near the King David Hotel and

stopped traffic for the Prime Minister’s vehicles

are routine procedures,

as are metal detectors and searches of all bags of those entering a building in a mall or supermarket.

New barriers at the entrances to the shuk, Machane Yehuda Market, may slow down those entering,

but most days beggars are more obvious than security personal.

 

Restaurants have a security guard posted outside. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The sign at this restaurant is in memory

of the people killed here by terrorists,

 it is located across the street from the Prime Minister’s official residence,

where security was very light while he was in Canada.

 

NO photos of the United States’  buildings are allowed, not even of the flag on top… more security.

 

While the media was chasing Rahm Emanuel and family so that they needed more security,

 a large police presence was appreciated at a community day event.  A police band played,

 

 hundreds of families participated and enjoyed

the beautiful horses and

a hi-tech robot that were brought to the park.

Even as this policewoman was training a group of new crossing guards for next school year,

a van came dangerously close to the group, demonstrating one of the country’s biggest security issues;

too many pedestrians are killed and injured in the crosswalks by reckless drivers.

 

For a few days the air quality was so bad that breathing was a hazard, the sky was the grey color of the

 stone buildings

 

 assuming you could see the buildings.  Many people were secure only inside their homes.

Whatever was coming out of the Israel Museum certainly did not improve air quality.

Today people are moving around a bit slower, as a new heat wave hits and a bit sadder

after the Gaza Flotilla incident brings a new security alert to Jerusalem

and we count another day of captivity for Gilad Shalit.