Apartheid, Segregation and now: Oppressive Occupation

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,

Arab women

 Muslim women were in Mamilla Mall shopping as usual.

Jaffa Gate

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

Jaffa Plaza

and inside Jaffa Gate.

Arab shuk

At the entrance to the Muslim shuk,

South African Deputy Minister Ebrahim Ismail Ebrahim,

Arab women

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

kosel

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,

Ramadan

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

Jaffa Gate

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

Israeli occupation

There were no military vehicles on the street below

Israel occupation

and people freely went up and down the steps to

palesitian

and through Mamilla Mall.

arab girls

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

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

Israeli police

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,

Muslim man

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

March Madness

In the United States “March Madness”

is the spring college basketball tournament,

 in Israel “March Madness” takes on a different meaning. 

With the new threat of millions of outsiders

on a  Global March to Jerusalem – the “GMJ,”

Israel is again cast as the aggressor in the Middle East.

Looking through March photos, I found this picture

"Palestinian men", 'Muslim prayers", "Israeli apartheid"

taken last year as Muslim worshipers were going to pray.

These men were entering through the Jaffa Gate to the Old City.

There were threats of violence on that Friday,

but Muslim worshipers still had access to their mosque.

This is not the picture GMJ paints for the world.

Please let us not forget, in March of last year

the Fogel family were brutally murdered

and a Jerusalem bus bomber killed a woman.

In March ten years ago, the Park Hotel in Netanya was blown up,

30 people were kiled.

 The Global March to Jerusalem

joins BDS (Boycott, Divest and Sanctions)

and Israel Apartheid Week  

as the newest anti-Israel publicity exploit.

 The GMJ organizers must have not have seen what

was really happening in Jerusalem, 

so I am sharing again:

        This is Apartheid?

 Israeli Apartheid?   and  More Israeli Apartheid?

It is time to stop the madness.


More Israeli Apartheid?

Boycott Israel Day approaches, Israel Apartheid Week goes on and on

and we hear that 6 people are killed in a mosque in Syria.

In Jerusalem,

"Palestinian men", "Friday prayer" , "Israel", "ethinic cleaing

in spite of calls for “Days of Rage”,

"Arab man", "Muslim prayer in Jerusalem"

Muslim prayer services have gone on

"Palestinian prayer time", "photo of Israeli atrocities"

Friday

"Old City walls" , "photo Arab woman"

after Friday.

Around Mamilla Mall

and the Old City walls,

"Mamilla Mall security", "increasingly restricted Palestinians"

freedom of movement is hampered only by wet and cold weather.

"security", "picture of Israeli security"

Purim security checks were required of everyone

"security barriers", "photo of Israeli security"

when entering

"Palestinians at Israeli security", "picture of Israel securtiy"

areas crowded with costumed celebrants.

As hundreds of mourners tried to squeeze on the only Egged bus

to the funeral for the murdered Fogel family,

"Palestinian woman" , "picture Arab woman"

an Arab woman was waiting at the same bus stop,

   the scene of  the Jerusalem bombing where a  woman was killed.

It is not far from Gan Sacher, Sacher Park,

"Arab children", "picture of Palestinian children"

where preparations for the Jerusalem Marathon were well under way.

Two hours before the bus stop bomb exploded,

"Palestinian students" , "picture of Palestinian children"

bus loads of Arab school children arrived at Gan Sacher

"ethnic cleansing ", "picture of Palestinian kids"

for an outing in the park.

Human rights are abused, freedom of religion is denied,

ethnic cleansing and atrocities are in the media,

but  hard to find on the real streets of Jerusalem.