Chilling in al-Quds with Loay Qudsi

I spent the 26th and the 27th of November in al-Quds/Jerusalem with sa7iby, Loay Qudsi.

In case you were wondering, his last name has no connection with al-Quds because he's originally from Nabulus.

In any event, we dabbled in some nightlife on the 26th, and the next day, which also happened to be my birthday, we spent in the Old City, at Hebrew University and at Fort David (Gila3t Dawood). The suug in the old city was something else, and let me tell you about the hummus!

Al-Quds also houses a piazza, and together with its cafés and live music, it felt at times European. I liked it.

Yes, I liked it. But not everyone would agree - others feel there's just too much tension in the air. The population roughly breaks down like this - 30% religious Jews, 30% secular and 30% Arab. Since East Jerusalem was annexed by Israel, it has become a city that breathes tension. The annexed East Jerusalemites refused to take on Israeli citizenship, and the majority to date identify as Palestinian.

For information on Israel's current policy in East Jerusalem, and how the population is daily being strangled, see this leaked report from the European Union's Mission in Jerusalem and Ramallah.

I'll post the following pictures to relay the rest of the story.

On the way to the Old City

Qudsi sizing up the entrance to the Old City

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Al Aqsa in the distance