A brief stop in East Jerusalem, theater of terrible unsolved questions...

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A brief stop in East Jerusalem alone deserves an entire travel itinerary because this place according to the UN should be managed by the international community has been de facto annexed by Israel since 1967 by uniting the other side of town that has proclaimed capital of the country. In turn, the Palestinian National Authority considers its own territory occupied East Jerusalem by the Israelis and self-proclaimed capital city of Palestine. In short, a real puzzle difficult to solve with three opposing positions. But in Jerusalem for centuries tolerate four communities that have divided the center in naltrettanti districts: Jews, Muslims, Christians and Armenians (in fact they are also Christians). Moreover Jerusalem is holy city for three major monotheistic religions of the world, here was the Temple of King Solomon cradle of Judaism, here Jesus was crucified, according to Muslim tradition here is Muhammad ascended to heaven. Me and my traveling companion arrive in East Jerusalem with a rambling one-day game from Taba in Egypt. The bus on which we traveled together to many Italians crossed southern Israel, has stood on the Dead Sea (see itinerary Israel), has crossed the West Bank (see itinerary Occupied Palestinian Territories) and came here. The boundary with the West Bank is close to East Jerusalem, but customs formalities are limited and the border is like a highway. Go up the plateau, which houses the town and take the first stop on the Mount of Olives, just over a hill which offers the complete overview of the historical center. Get off to achieve a particularly favorable vantage point: the walls enclosing the old town square on which stands the golden dome of the Mosque the Temple Mount. Hence it is clear that a few tens of meters separating the districts of the four communities, the famous Wailing Wall is so dear to the Jews is supported on one of the four walls of the Temple Mount, the Via Crucis unfolds its stations in the Arab souk . A few yards from us the place where Jesus taught his disciples the Our Father, below us on a hillside perhaps the most important Jewish cemetery in the world. Descending from the Mount of Olives up to its slopes where is the Garden of Gethsemane. It was here that Jesus suffered the betrayal by Judas and arrest by the Romans. On this site still insist olive trees, some thousands of years, others planted in the last century like the one here put Pope Paul VI. Beside the vegetable Church Nations so called because built with the help of many Catholic countries. Inside, there is the rock on which Jesus prayed before the capture. I tried commozzione in this church where I could have a while of silence. From here we take the bus in front of what should be the tomb of Mary, I say should because even Ephesus in Turkey considers to have one. We go to a restaurant where a buffet lunch and still reach the old city bus. To enter the old town you must pass under a metal detector, it does not disturb too much, and I guarantee against terrorist attacks. Here we see the first Orthodox Jews with their clothes and hats from the long tense blacks represent about 20% of the Israeli population and most live in Jerusalem. Opens before us the great square which houses the Western Wall, it is the only wall left standing of the Temple of King Solomon and relies on the hill that houses the Temple Mount. Jews for centuries before they go to the wall and insert the cards with prayers to God in his intersizi. I also do the same but I get to wear the traditional Jewish cap that comes supplied, paper, dipreghiera entrance area. Since we enter the souk Muslim who grows in crowded and narrow alleyways overlooked negozietrti selling all types of merchandise. E 'in these alleys that winds the Via Dolorosa with the various Stations of the Cross, little more than sketched plaques placed on the facades of shops and old houses. It 'impossible to pray in this racket or seek a moment of silence while a merchant tries to trim the goods. But just a few steps up and the noise magically disappears in a few yards we leave behind the crowd yelling and enter into the quiet of the Christian quarter where we reach the Holy Sepulcher. The Church overlooks a small square, the façade is caught between old houses where the only open door. The interior is spacious and houses the places of Jesus' Passion We are lucky because the queue to visit the Holy Sepulchre is not very long, less than an hour we can get nell'edicola hosting the empty tomb of Jesus Nearby newsstand, in another wing of the church, climb a short flight of stairs to Golgotha, the place where the crucifixion of Jesus took place between the Holy Sepulchre and Golgotha is the rock on which the lifeless body Jesus was put to wrap it in cloth. Unfortunately, unlike what happened in Gethsemane, here is buzzing and you can not find the right setting, shame because the place would certainly deserved. This fact is not only the earth of Calvary but also one of the few places in the world which recognizes the entire Christian community and it is jointly run by Catholics, Greek Orthodox, Coptic, Armenian and Christian Syrians. The Holy Sepulchre descend from a different location than the Via Dolorosa and reach the Jaffa Gate exit from the walls. Here our waiting bus which leave East Jerusalem back into the West Bank (see itinerary Occupied Palestinian Territories). Cross the West Bank back in Israel and then Taba in Egypt.