TOP FIVE

1. According to the shopkeepers of the Old City of Jerusalem, the city is “dead.” They say there are no shoppers and that the sales volume is down to zero. One shopkeeper told the 0202 (Viewpoints from Eastern Jerusalem) webpage that stores are open today not for business purposes, but rather to show demonstratively that they exist and that their intention is to “defend Al-Aqsa.” The photo below, as well as physical visits, show a different picture: Most of the stores are not open at all, and certainly not for protest purposes – while other stores are open for business to the passersby.

In this photo, taken from the Jaffa Gate entrance to the Old City marketplace, one can see sparse traffic, but at the same time, it is clear that the owners of many shops do not share the 0202 interviewee’s viewpoint on the importance of opening their stores “just for show.”

2. The Al-Quds Al-Bawsala website reports that shots were fired at the Calandia crossing when security forces were engaged in an offensive. It is claimed that the shots causes the forces to retreat. The report is accompanied by a video clip.

3. OPA – the US Office of Palestinian Affairs in Jerusalem, which serves practically as an American embassy to the Palestinian Authority – failed to effectively interpret or foresee developments in recent days. In its X (formerly Twitter) account, it expressed concern at the Israeli attacks that hit UNRWA installations in Gaza – just two days before the United States announced that it was suspending the transfer of funds to the organization. The reason, of course, is that UNRWA employees and installations reportedly played an active role in the murderous attacks of Oct. 7^th. This is an example of the “independence” that OPA claims for itself, in acting not in accordance with official US policy as implemented by the Embassy in Jerusalem, but as a pro-Palestinian body for all intents. This is yet another revelation of the true mandate of OPA as answerable directly to the State Department in Washington, and not to the American Ambassador in Israel. In the Embassy’s X account, the same concern expressed by OPA does not appear.

Bad timing for OPA’s expression of concern at Israel’s attack of UNRWA facilities

4. 
   Some six schools of the increasingly discredited UNRWA organization are active in Jerusalem. These include a large school in the Shuafat refugee camp, in which 1200 boys and girls study, as well as in Silwan (Shilo’ach) for 100 girls, in Wadi Joz (150 pupils), and Sur Baher (350 pupils). UNRWA schools operate in Beit Tsafafa and Old City’s Flowers Gate area; the latter also houses UNRWA offices and a clinic.

It is claimed that yet another UNRWA school operates in the Kafr Aqeb area, on land owned by the Jewish National Fund. Demands have been made to close the school and return the land to the JNF, given the “unacceptable” use to which the land has been put. However, it is actually not certain that the UNRWA facility there is a school. Information received in the past indicates that if anything, the building is used only for leisure activities for the middle-class population in the area.

4. High school textbooks in circulation in Jordan state about the current war in Gaza as follows: “Israel committed a massacre in Gaza, after the latter set out to defend Al-Aqsa.”

Jordan is the country that is officially responsible for the Holy Sites in Jerusalem and the Temple Mount, by consent of Israel. The Temple Mount is one of the common denominators among the various sectors of the Palestinian Authority populace in Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria and of course Gaza, and it is effectively used to unite them around various causes – such as the current war. The new textbooks in question repeat the Hamas attempt to link the current war to the perceived “danger” to the Temple Mount.

The relevant passage in the Jordanian textbook, accusing Israel of having committed a slaughter in Gaza.

Jerusalem Updates

• PASSIA, the Palestinian Academic Society for the Study of International Affairs, stationed in the Wadi Joz neighborhood, all but closed down at the beginning of the current war in Gaza – but has now begun to renew its activities. In the past month, two gatherings of an international nature took place there, with the participation of a British delegation and a representative of the British General Consul in Jerusalem.
• The Al-Bawsala website has an item about the municipality’s intention to confiscate and raze structures in Silwan, for the benefit of the King’s Garden to be built there.

Social Media

• The Al-Bawsala website appears to be pushing the message that it is possible for those who are persistent to enter the Temple Mount, despite the stricter Israeli security criteria for entry to prayers. The site brings several examples of successful less-than-lawful entries to the site.
• The legal defense team of Sheikh Akrame Tsabri – a leading provocateur and inciter against Israel, who has been indicted for these activities – is going on the offensive. It has cited examples of incitement against Tsabri himself on Jewish social media sites. A lawyer for Tsabri explained to the Al-Quds Al-Bawsala site the legal significance thereof.

TRENDING

We see of late an increasing tendency by the Arabs of Jerusalem (primarily those of the southern neighborhoods), those of the PA, and even of the Bedouin in Jordan, to stoke the flames of extremism. The ultimate common denominator among all of them is the Temple Mount, which apparently stands in the background of the entire picture. One difference that should be noted between the groups is that the Jordanians are choosing at present to highlight their public support for Hamas in Gaza, while in Jerusalem this is not at all the case. A future report is being prepared that will elaborate on these developments.