Tension in Jerusalem

The other day, we walked around the Old City to orient ourselves to our surroundings. In the small space contained within the city walls, an amazing variety of very different, often sharply opposed groups was represented.


Quite visible were the tourists (both the church groups with their bright, matching sun hats and the hippieish individuals who just like to hang around Israel). Then, there are the Jews. There are settler Jews who live in the fenced settlements in the West Bank. They are easily identified by their white knitted keppis and by the handguns stuffed in their belts or the machine guns slung over their shoulders. Any citizen is free to carry weapons openly or concealed (and many do) in the state of Israel.


Then, there are the Orthodox Jews. Although there are many differnt sects, these can genreally be recognised by their long curls, prayer shawls, overcoats, or widebrimmed hats. The third group of Jews isn't as visible because they are the secular Jews and don't do much to identify themselvs outwardly. Because we live in the Muslim Quarter, there are lots of Muslim women wearing higabs in the streets. These people can also be distinguished from the Jews because of their more Arab features. Many of the shops around our hospice have Hammas posters or Palestinian signs in the windows.


Visible everywhere are soldiers strolling through the streets in groups of two or three. They are not just for show and will occasionaly stop and question people on the street. One of our guys was stopped and asked for some form of identification less than 2 hours after we arrived. Security is highly visible (if not effective) with guards standing outside most major establishments.