Jerusalem streets empty after day of terror
Heavy security presence in the Old City and Western Wall area; few visitors aside from worshipers arriving for Simchat Torah prayers, who say they will not be deterred by violence.
Jerusalem's Old City and the Western Wall were relatively empty on Sunday morning, following terror attacks on Saturday night and early Sunday morning that killed two and wounded three.
The rare sight of empty parking spaces around the Western Wall highlighted the scant number of visitors.
Those arriving in the area were mostly tourists and haredi residents of Jerusalem, and of course border guards and police.
The Old City area has been nearly blocked off, with the only way to access it through Sultan Sulemain Street near Damascus Gate by car and through alleyways by foot. However, thousands of worshipers arrived at the Western Wall to pray on Sunday.
Among the visitors on Sunday morning were Baruch and Ina from Modi'in. "We didn't think about changing our plans because of what happened," said Ina. Her husband said: "We must strengthen the city. The day it becomes scary to walk around in Jerusalem, they can close the gates."
Amian Kelemer and her daughter, Orianna, described a large security presence, but said they felt safe. "We feel that people are looking at one another and protecting one another," they said.
A woman named Miriam arrived at the Western Wall on Sunday, just like every Simchat Torah. "It's still a little scary, but I trust in Hashem," she said. "I look twice and pay attention to who is around me."
Avraham from Bnei Brak also arrived to pray and called on Jews to come to Jerusalem. "We are undeterred," he said. "It's painful to hear about terror attacks, but we still won't give up. It's true that we have to be more careful and keep our eyes open, but we still don't need to be deterred and don't need to be scared."
