Palestinians set for Ramadan
Colorful lanterns and decorations filled the streets of east Jerusalem on Monday as Palestinians prepared for Ramadan relatively free of COVID-19 restrictions.
The Old City mood was far more joyful than last year when prayers were suspended at the Dome of the Rock and Al-Aqsa Mosque. Although there are no foreign tourists, Old City shops reported brisk local business.
Israel has included east Jerusalem Palestinians in its swift rollout of vaccines.
But it is unclear if West Bank Palestinians will be admitted to Al-Aqsa. An Israeli military official said no decision had been made on holiday permits.
The situation may be complicated by the slower pace of vaccinations under the Palestinian Authority in the West Bank. Israel has faced international calls to ensure that Palestinians are inoculated.
The PA said it would allow more shops to open at night, and for Ramadan night prayers to be held in mosques except on the busiest day of the week, Friday, when they would take place outside.
But it imposed a COVID night-time curfew on movements between cities, villages and refugee camps.
Fasting lasts from dawn to dusk during the Muslim holy month. The PA banned restaurants from holding iftars – the breaking of the fast at sunset – and stores selling sweet pastries were permitted only to make deliveries.
In Gaza, shoppers filled markets despite a recent threefold increase in daily infections, which closed schools, imposed night curfews and banned large gatherings; but it fell short of a total lockdown.
“This year, we brought goods from Egypt and China, and there is a massive turnout,” said Gaza storekeeper Hatem El-Helo as loudspeakers echoed with Egyptian songs celebrating Ramadan. “People want to bring joy into their homes.” (Reuters)