middle east current events – Page 73 – The Real Jerusalem Streets

US Vice-President Biden Returns to Jerusalem

March 10, 2016rjstreets

US Vice-President Joe Biden was in town this week.

When he visited five years ago,

it was a blog-worthy occasion, a very no-frills visit,

as compared to a US Presidential visit to Jerusalem, Israel.

But this visit was not like last time.

The big red no-parking signs were not warnings for the

upcoming Jerusalem Marathon street closings,

but for Vice-President Biden’s visit to

President Reuven Rivlin at Beit Hanasi,

the official residence of the Israeli President.

The red carpet was unfurled,

and for an extra layer of security, this blue tarp was erected.

Flags, flowers and podiums were arranged.

Hamentashen were among the sweets served to munch.

There was a long delay and wait,

because the VP stayed longer than planned

with Prime Minister Netanyahu.

Finally, it was show time.

Key players were in their positions.

The motorcade arrived.

A huge US vehicle with DC license plates

and adorned with US and Israeli flags

pulled up along the carpet with swarms of security,

and the United States Vice-President.

International press lined the way ready to report.

Such coordination,

even their ties matched.

I was late for a meeting and left after the speeches,

right after the official hand shake.

The waiting cars of the motorcade filled the driveway,

while security shades blocked the view.

This was a full scale production,

everyone knew that Joe Biden was here this time.

And don’t you know it,

as soon as I turned around to leave there she was–

another one of those Arab girls!

Crazy layers of security, a street lined with police cars,

bomb squads whose photos I cannot share,

and there was an Arab girl having a driving lesson.

18 New Photos of Arab Girls

March 8, 2016March 6, 2021rjstreets

Another International Women’s Day during Israel Apartheid Week,

while each year the IAW hate-fest gets longer and louder,

not much else has changed.

Hanin Zoabi can still yell about

“occupation and injustice” from inside the Knesset.

She can shout that Israel is a Jewish state and not democratic.

She rants against the Israeli government

and retains her seat in the Knesset

and her right to free speech.

Does she not see her freedoms as an Arab woman in Israel,

as compared to females in the rest of Arab world?

There are not just female Arab Knesset members,

but Arab – Muslim girls visit the Knesset on a regular basis,

an Arab girl can work as a guide,

while an Arab female Knesset member speaks with the media.

When seven new Qadis were sworn in at Beit Hanasi,

the Israeli President’s official residence,

females were not among the new Islamic Sharia judges,

but Muslim women and girls were invited and attended.

Women in Saudi Arabia are still not allowed to drive a car.

Sometimes new female drivers are chaperoned,

but in Jerusalem, Israel,

I have seen a female driving instructor wearing a hijab.

Life is not always a day in the park,

but many like to sit and enjoy the new Teddy Fountain.

Arab girls can walk about freely.

They can be found

with cell phones texting inside an office building,

or alone on the street.

As this couple was crossing busy King George Street,

there were two Israeli girls in uniform on the other side,

who did not even notice they were there.

Arab women and girls can be found,

shopping in the Machane Yehuda Market, the shuk,

in Talpiot, in groups

or alone,

day or night,

in the stores of Mamilla Mall,

or along Jaffe Street in town.

Photos of Arab girls,

walking to Jaffa Gate and the Old City,

or eating in a cafe on Ben Yehuda Mall,

are normal, every day, no-news occurrences.

I have too many photos to share.

But, these are three all-time favorites:

This woman and other Arab women receiving diplomas for

their advanced graduate degrees in science at Hebrew University.

This woman taking a selfie at the Western Wall Plaza,

while hundreds of IDF soldiers waited for a special ceremony.

And this one,

oh, those Arab girls.

Five years have gone by since my first post,

and Arab women and girls in the Middle East

still have more freedom in Israel.

Updated: On March 13, 2016,

one photo was requested to be removed.

March 8, 2021 – the young woman who asked to have her photo removed let me take it when she was a Knesset tour guide. Today she is serving as an Israeli diplomat in a foreign country.

One Day to the Next in Jerusalem

February 24, 2016rjstreets

In this crazy, sometimes upside-down place called Jerusalem, Israel,

one day can be so different to the next.

Yesterday, it was cold and wet and rainy.

The President of Kenya came for an official visit,

stood on a red carpet next to the President of Israel,

outside at Beit Hanasi, the Israeli president’s official residence,

as the morning rain was falling.

The national anthems were played.

It was cold and wet, but

the honor guard stood at attention with raindrops falling off them.

Yesterday I was under my umbrella trying to stay dry,

the sky was foggy and grey.

Then the next morning it was hot and sunny.

A beautiful day to be outside,

it was like summer in Gan Ha’atzmaut, Independence Park.

People were eating outside in Ben Yehuda cafes

and strolling along Jaffa Road,

with the new Mashbir rising above Zion Square.

Renovation is under way on the old Mashbir building on King George Street,

after a serious fire around Sukkot time.

WeWork is coming to this site in Jerusalem, Israel,

so stay tuned for more innovation for the start up nation

sure to come from this venture.

While this art display is not as popular as the umbrellas of last year,

people were out on Yoel Salomon Street today.

As I walked home,

I passed the work at the future Museum of Tolerance,

and the flowers lining the Horse Park.

Not sure what will happen tomorrow,

but next week,

an ice skating rink will open in Cinema City.

One day to the next,

you can never sure what you will find on the streets

of Jerusalem, Israel.