Jerusalem watch
Jerusalem watch
In the city where trouble is always just a blink away military security is visibly present. Leaving Zion mountain in the Old City we ran into this group of security patrol. Boys and a girl with large automatic weapons were walking in the direction of King David’s Tomb. This is what normal life looks like here. I took some pictures. One day there will be peace. This day hasn’t come yet.
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Wonderful sketches, Alex. I think this subject material would be difficult to whip off. Peace….ah, yes.
Thank you, Leslie! This one pleased me, although I haven’t mastered my scanner here, and what you see on your screen is losing somewhat when compared to the actual sketch. Life is different here, too often I get to think how blessed we are in the States.
Scary. This is an awesome sketch – and while we are all hoping for peace it seems attitudes will have to shift enormously before it is possible.
Good to see you, Casey! And thanks for your comment! The situation here in Israel is not simple for all involved. Interestingly the perspective changes when I observe the life of the country from within. I can see how a lot of reporting is worded and toned for sensation, for the most noise, unfortunately. The reality of life is both calmer and more complex than descriptions we get from news agencies. More objectivity and facts would be very helpful, in my view. And yes, the approaches will have to change to achieve stability, at the moment I just don’t see the readiness for this change on either side.
You did a great job capturing the youth of the subjects on this sketch, I especially noted their quick stride the hair flowing from the young girl.
Hard to imagine those so young hold the power of life and death strapped to their back.
Thank you for the comment, Tom! Good to see you visiting! I appreciate your words about their youth – the soldiers were very young indeed, but I didn’t notice myself that it came out in the sketch. I see what you meant now after you put it in words. I am so pleased I managed that!
I want to mention that actual shooting rarely happens, visible presence of the army is a great preventive measure. But once I witnessed some kind of shouting and waving of arms happening in a group of people dressed in traditional Jewish Orthodox and Arab clothing. A security patrol appeared in a matter of seconds and without raising the guns they began to make metal noises with them. That was enough. Whatever disagreement was happening there fizzled and quarreling people dispersed.
Great post I really enjoy your art works.
Thank you, Alonso! I appreciate your frequent visits! Hopefully my work will get better with practice.
It’s always a little jarring and scary to see men and women dressed and armed like that. Every since 9/11 we now have police officers dressed like that in the streets. My husband being one of them. I always think that someday we will get over our religious differences and live in peace.
Great sketch. I love how you have them coming around the corner, which to me indicates an element of surprise.
Being a post 9/11 Newyorker you clearly understand the complexity of life in Jerusalem better than most. Especially when your husband is with PD. I find that acceptance of a fellow human is still developing in this region. This lack of acceptance shows itself in many tiny daily encounters and irritates me to no end. I keep thinking of Tom Lehrer’s National Brotherhood Week. It would be useful to have it mandated here, at least once a year… 😀
Somehow you still see beauty everywhere you look. The use of color makes this everyday scene quite lovely…the ancient stones look like jewels.
Thank you for noticing the stones, Linda! I did play with them a bit. In reality they were ochre and gray tones only. I jazzed them up to set off the olive of solders’ uniforms. I liked how the stones have turned out, glad that you did as well.