Israel apartheid – Page 5 – The Real Jerusalem Streets

Jerusalem as August Ends

August 28, 2012rjstreets

Did you hear a loud noise on Monday morning?

It was the collective sighs of relief filling the streets –

the long summer holiday was over

and over 2 million Israeli children went back to school.

Trips to museums for water play were replaced with starting Kita alef,

which in Israel is a more exciting event than many university graduations.

The school children living in the southern Israel town of Sderot

had another rocket fired at them from Gaza as they started to go to class.

More than 440 rockets have been fired into Israel from Gaza

since the year began, averaging around two a day!

Last week Shakespeare’s Much Ado About Nothing,

was performed in English in Jerusalem, Israel’s Bloomfield Park.

The shows were free and open to the public.

Shakespeare, widely agreed to be perhaps the most clever writer ever,

could he have imagined what is happening now?

Arab families were seated on the grass to watch.

A few meters away on the plaza, Muslim women sat on a bench

and then followed to see the photos of a beautiful bride in white,

as a Jewish couple were preparing to get married.

While hundreds are killed each day in Syria,

this was the scene in the Jerusalem park.

School has started, however university does not begin until October.

Arab girls in Israel will be attending classes,

not banned from an education like in Iran.

And of course, they can drive themselves to the park or to school,

not like the women living in Saudi Arabia.

Kikar Zion, Zion Square, is still a safe place to walk during the day.

It was a long hot summer,

but the evenings are now cool for the late night summer music programs.

Last week the music and lights were at the Jerusalem Theater,

and this week Gan Sacher, Sacher Park, will showcase Reggae Music

and Safra Square will host the last August free public concert.

First there was the Wine Festival, then Beer Festival,

and now this week for the first time an Ice Cream Festival.

Always something happening on the Jerusalem streets.

Apartheid, Segregation and now: Oppressive Occupation

August 13, 2012rjstreets

Here we go again.

First Israeli Apartheid was the rage,

then segregation became a popular ‘hot’ slur.

Now the Deputy Foreign Minister from South Africa calls on his people

not to visit “occupier” Israel.

Too bad, for if his people were in Jerusalem, Israel,

they could see the “oppression” for themselves.

Syrians are being killed daily by the hundreds,

in Egypt military leaders are being purged after Muslim terrorists

killed 16 fellow Muslims while they were breaking their Ramadan fast,

and violence in Myanmar is spreading to Jakarta and Mumbai.

As the month of Ramadan fasting comes to an end in Jerusalem,

Muslim women were in Mamilla Mall shopping as usual.

On Friday mid-day prayer time, this was the scene outside Jaffa Gate

and inside Jaffa Gate.

At the entrance to the Muslim shuk,

South African Deputy Minister Ebrahim Ismail Ebrahim,

would have seen the security of the oppressive “occupation”.

Yes, a security blimp was hovering near Damascus Gate,

but all appeared normal on a regular Friday near the Kotel, the Western Wall.

There was no violence or stone throwing,

so there were no restrictions or barriers as people were leaving, though

several men covered their heads with prayer rugs for protection from the sun.

There were no military vehicles on the street below

and people freely went up and down the steps to

and through Mamilla Mall.

Because of past suicide bombers, there is always a security check

to enter Jerusalem malls, but security checks are for everyone.

Suddenly, police closed off Agron Street with red tape,

even Egged bus drivers were stopped and had trouble getting through.

I did not stay around long enough to find out why the street was closed,

but it was not a restriction of Muslims oppressed under “occupation” .

Komen Israel Race for the Cure

May 3, 2012rjstreets

The second Komen Race for the Cure was held in Jerusalem today.

Thousands gathered in Gan Sacher, Sacher Park,

to help raise money for breast cancer research.

People came from all over Israel and all over the world to take part,

including hundreds of Arab women

and Arab girls.

From a large stage after warm up and exercise music played,

US ambassador to Israel Dan Shapiro spoke to the crowd in Hebrew.

Jerusalem Mayor Nir Barkat and his wife Beverly

led the crowd out of the park

to the starting line.

Balloons were released after the mayor spoke

and the march began

going up Bezalel Street toward the center of town

to King George Street.

The March then proceeded through the Ben Yehuda Mall

and to Yoel Salomon Street,

which was a great improvement over the previous route.

US Senator Joe and Hadassah Lieberman and Ambassador Shapiro

seemed to be really enjoying themselves.

The mid-day weather was much cooler than the last march

and there was plenty of water for everyone.

Walking along the Walls of the Old City was perfect way to end the march.

In the park after the finish line,

a yoga session was led by a breast cancer survivor.

Sadly, not everyone survives breast cancer and

many people walked in memory of a friend or relative.

Komen organizers should also be complimented for providing

toilets for the disabled at the beginning and end of the route.

For an event that received so little advance publicity,

it was bigger and better than last time.

It is not clear yet how much money was raised for cancer research,

but as people we passed on the way kept saying,

“Ayza yofi, ayza yofi“… this is beautiful, so beautiful.”

There was no violence,

certainly no sign of apartheid on the Jerusalem streets today,

but there were a lot of pink banners and pink balloons.

Additional photos on The Real Jerusalem Streets Facebook page.

Also see:

Arab Women Raced Through Jerusalem with Weapons