12 Av 5779
13 August 2019
The News On The Israeli Street
Palestinian terror in the last 24 hours . . .
On the Gaza border:
*Palestinian terrorists launching explosive balloons started six more fires at such locations as Gvaram, Karmia, and an unnamed IDF base.
*Two Palestinian terrorists who tried to cross the border east of Khan Younis were shot.
*A Palestinian terrorist armed with a knife and ammunition was captured as he crossed the security fence.
Instead of proactively dealing with the daily, almost hourly, infiltration attempts by Palestinian terrorists, our reactive government has decided to build a wall within the fence. This new wall will be six meters high and extend over nine non-contiguous kilometers in sections between Yad Mordechai and Nahal Oz. According to the IDF, these new wall sections are meant “to delay terrorists.”
Can you believe this?
Israeli taxpayers are now going to spend tens of millions of more shekels to build another wall–knowing all the while that the new wall, like the new fence, will not stop terrorists. Everybody here in the South is asking the obvious question: why don’t we just go after the terrorists at the source?
In Judea and Samaria:
*Just like what happens every day, Palestinian terrorists attacked Israeli men, women, and children with “rocks” and Molotovs at more than a dozen locations including Neve Tzuf, Ofra, and Luban A-Sharqiya.
*Two Palestinian terrorists armed with knives were captured at Deir Ibiza.
If you can believe this, the IDF was at the Israel Supreme Court yesterday, forced to defend itself against charges brought by 33 left-wing activists.
What was the IDF charged with?
Blindfolding suspected terrorists.
Yes, you read that correctly.
IDF soldiers were accused of blindfolding captured terrorists.
And do you know what? Instead of defending itself by pointing out that blindfolding is an essential security measure to thwart other attacks by terrorists in custody (not to mention to stop them from gathering sensitive information), the IDF agreed with its accusers that it should stop blindfolding anyone until IDF procedures are “sharpened and clarified”.
Just unbelievable.
TODAY’S BLOG
Sovereignty:
Our Trip To Eastern Jerusalem With Ateret Cohanim
Part 4
Today we come to the end of the trip around eastern Jerusalem that we took with Ateret Cohanim last Tuesday. Remember that Ateret Cohanim’s primary mission is to reclaim and redeem Jewish homes and compounds in eastern Jerusalem.
I left you yesterday at Beit Sara, way out on the southwestern corner of Jerusalem.
As we left Beit Sara, we retraced our route along the security fence–on the other side of which we could see what would have been the Palestinian Parliament building in Abu Dis had the Oslo Accords not been brought to a horrific halt by the so-called second intifada.
Back along the security fence. Note the buildings in Abu Dis on the other side. The one on the right was supposed to have been the Palestinian Parliament Building.
A closer photo of the road along the fence as we came back into the main neighborhood:
Both Jerusalem on one side and Abu Dis on the other are built right up to the security fence.
One thing we would like to remind is to always enjoy safe cialis tadalafil 50mg sex and for those who are suffering from the erectile dysfunction of male reproductive system. get viagra australia Do not put your fertility into question die to lower semen production rather start taking these herbal supplements offers effective cure for premature ejaculation. With long-lasting temporary tattoos you get to orgasm by fantasizing deep in your mind whilst you are asleep. levitra price deeprootsmag.org cheapest cialis from india It has an ability to relieve stress.
We continued up to the eastern wall of the Old City, past the Lions’ Gate and then turning left up Sultan Suleiman Street (a route we walked in the opposite direction with the Women in Green this past Saturday) going west along the northern wall of the Old City.
We exited our van at Herod’s Gate at which our superb Ateret Cohanim representative Daniel regaled us with what his organization has accomplished within the Old City.
We then entered Herod’s Gate (also known as Flowers Gate).
The activities at Herod’s Gate are probably much the same as they were 2000 years ago when it led into a Jewish neighborhood.
It should be noted that looking at a map today, you would see that we were entering the Muslim Quarter. However, Daniel did not call it that, preferring to use “the old Jewish Quarter” as the descriptor. *
Indeed it is an old Jewish neighborhood.
Just think back to the time of the Second Temple. There were no Muslims in the Old City–in fact, there were no Muslims anywhere. Similarly, there were no Christians in the Old City, and no Armenians.
Everyone living in the Old City (which then was simply “Jerusalem”) were Jews.
To repeat, 100% of the population were Jews.
Specifically, the area inside Herod’s Gate was known as Bezeta. It was a section of the city known for its many markets and many fine residences. Its nickname was “New Town.”
So where did all the Jews go?
You can answer that question without your humble servant’s help.
Our first stop was at the Herod’s Gate compound which was renovated at Ateret Cohanim in 1988. It includes residences, a nursery school, and a playground. The playground is actually located inside the gates of the compound because it is not safe for Jewish children to walk or play in the streets outside.
Looks like a regular playground, right? Wrong. This is the only playground on the ground for Jewish children to play at in the “Muslim Quarter.” It has a permanent security guard on duty.
This is the kindergarten:
This is the Herod’s Gate Compound’s kindergarten. Again, it is anything but normal.
From there we walked on into the “neighborhood”, stopping at several wonderful homes that Ateret Cohanim has renovated. Here is the door to one of the homes:
This leads to a spacious, multi-storied “compound” deep within the “Muslim Quarter.”
This is an amazing rooftop view from another residence deep in the “Muslim Quarter” that Ateret Cohanim is renovating. It is probably a view that you have never seen before:
A breathtaking view from the domed Hurva Synagogue on the back far right to the Kipat HaSela (Dome of the Rock) on the left almost obscured by the minaret. The Kotel (Western Wall) is not visible but basically runs from that minaret to the south, to the right of the row of trees. The building directly in the middle in the foreground is another building reclaimed and renovated by Ateret Cohanim. Can you imagine a time when everything in this photograph was Jewish?
Finally, we ended up at the former home of Ariel Sharon which overlooks the Via Dolorosa.
From there it was on to the Kotel where the wonderful tour came to an end.
I would strongly suggest that if you are ever in Jerusalem, give Daniel Luria a call and take the same tour. You’ll be amazed at what Ateret Cohanim has done and is doing.
Let’s end this mini-series the same way we began: remember that the bottom line is that the remarkable Ateret Cohanim needs your help. Visit its website and judge for yourself; here is a link to the American Friends of Ateret Cohanim!
Also remember that the key word is “sovereignty.”
*The current demarcation of the city into 4 quarters did not begin to take place until the 19th century.
A student from Malawi, who had worked with an Israeli health volunteer in his country battling AIDS, came up to us as we walked down the street in the UC-Davis Picnic Day Parade and wanted to carry the Israeli flag.