TOP FIVE

EXCLUSIVE:
Preparations in Jerusalem for Ramadan, which begins in a month from now: 

1. Voices have been heard of late in the Arab neighborhoods of eastern Jerusalem against the acceptance of the ongoing situation of restrictions on Friday prayers at the Temple Mount – especially with Ramadan only a month away.
2. As a general rule, the Arab public in Jerusalem has little interest in the war in Gaza – certainly not to the extent that it would bring them out to the streets. The average Arab Jerusalemite has been busy with his not-simple domestic problems ever since the onset of the current war. The only thing that could make Jerusalem’s Arabs take to the streets seems to be the familiar campaign that has worked in the past: a perceived “danger” to Al-Aqsa. The Al-Aqsa Mosque is practically the only link between the Arabs of Jerusalem and those of Gaza.
3. Unlike in previous years, when Israeli authorities invited leaders of the Arab community in eastern Jerusalem to a meeting to discuss plans and scenarios for the looming month of Ramadan, that has not yet happened this year – just a month before Ramadan is to begin.
4. The sense in the Arab neighborhoods is that the Israeli security forces believe that their own strong tactics are that which have kept the Arab street essentially quiet and non-belligerent. These would include increased law enforcement of anti-incitement laws and others. However, Arab sources tell us that the enforcement was not so strong that it would prevent the street from “burning” during the war. Rather, the reasons are to be found elsewhere, in the simple fact that the Arab public is not largely interested in war.
   The situation is different regarding the Temple Mount. The reasons for the quiet that has reigned there of late are liable to become out-of-date by the time of the month of Ramadan, if the restrictions on Friday worship continue.
5. Sources say that the sense in the eastern neighborhoods is that Israel does not appreciate their “good behavior” and restraint. As such, their conclusion is that their self-control does not pay off, and that there is therefore no reason for them to continue it during Ramadan.

These feelings are a continuation of that which has long been felt in the Arab street in Jerusalem since the war began, that the Israeli authorities are acting “unfairly” towards the Arab public. This is not the sense in all areas, as might have been the case in the past, but merely regarding the Temple Mount prayers. This issue is critically important, because it’s practically the only thing in common between the Arabs of Jerusalem and of Gaza. If Israel is felt to be threatening the status of Al-Aqsa, this could truly lead to an unprecedented conflagration, something that Jerusalem has avoided up to now.

Jerusalem Updates

• Municipal: The Ras el-Amoud neighborhood, of which the Jewish community of Maaleh HaZeitim is a part, suffered a tragedy this week with the deaths by fire of three children, aged 2-6; their mother is still hospitalized in mortal condition. The fire in their apartment was started by an electric heater. A Magen David Adom ambulance transported the family to the hospital.
• A convention commemorating International Al-Quds [Jerusalem] Week is being held in Turkey these days. The gathering unites dozens of organizations, including some that are identified with Hamas and Islamic Jihad. Among the speakers have been Munir Abrash, the Director-General of the Health Department of Hamas in Gaza. He participated by Zoom, and described his view of the suffering caused by the war in Gaza. EXCLUSIVE

SOCIAL MEDIA

• The Al-Quds Al-Bawsala website reported on the protest by hundreds of Jews outside UNRWA offices in Maalot Dafna, Jerusalem, demanding the closure of the organization.
• The site also reported on a Jewish extremist who reportedly spat upon a Christian pastor. The report stated that the reason for the attack was because the victim was Christian. (At the same time, reports are that Muslims are preventing Christians from conducting public ceremonies in Jerusalem.)

TRENDING

It is expected that in the coming weeks, the unemployed rolls in Jerusalem will increase by thousands of workers – formerly UNRWA employees. UNRWA reports that tens of thousands of people are employed in its various offices, including 3,000 in Lebanon and up to 10,000 in Gaza. Thousands of others are employed in each of Jordan, Syria, Jerusalem, and Judea/Samaria.