Nablus Gate - third Friday of Ramadan

Today is no holiday.

The media report that 120,000 people were expected to come, but only 60,000 arrived, confirming what I saw with my own eyes. 

Except for the stalls ready for customers outside Damascus Gate and along Hanevi’im Street, crowds were few.  Almost no family groups arrived.  There are no delays at the gate, either for people entering or for those leaving.  They’re a mix of every possible type – Jews, tourists, Christians.  It almost feels like a “normal” Friday, except for the media which are present in large number.

It's not for me to judge whether fear, or the media, and the behavior of the police at Al Aqsa, created an image of reality that discouraged people from coming to pray, to fulfill their religious duty.