So I was minding my own business... and I managed to get right into the middle of a major civil unrest in Jerusalem last night. Seems the city of Jerusalem has decided that certain parking lots near the Old City need to remain open on the Sabbath in order to relieve parking crowding issues in the Old City. It's not a convenience thing, it's a safety thing. Crowded parking areas block emergency vehicles. Ultra-Orthodox Jews think that there is already entirely too much driving in the City and they think that these parking lots will encourage more driving. So they have protested to keep the lots closed. Last night, the protests turned into a full blown riot. You haven't seen a riot until you have seen well-dressed Jewish men wearing all manner of hats, from kippah to Russian Kosak fur-hat, up in arms. Rather than run from the sirens and angry yelling, of course I had to walk closer and find out what was going on. It was not clear to me on the street what the disturbance was about (and none of my pictures turned out) but I did witness a fire started, the police use of the tear gas and the water cannon, and numerous arrests of young Jewish men. Apparently rioting does not break Sabbath laws...
You can read more about it here: http://blog.taragana.com/n/ultra-orthodox-jews-protest-in-jerusalem-for-second-day-over-sabbath-violations-93751/
Mom - I promise I won't attend any more riots...
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Chip, I told you to behave yourself over there. No more riots,....just stay inside on the Sabbath. Love you, Mom
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