The morning market in Jerusalem's historic Old City is a picture-postcard scene, with elderly Arab women in embroidered dresses, selling a myriad of fruit from woven baskets. But for Israeli Jews, East Jerusalem has become a potential danger zone, a place where most don't venture without an armed guard in a flak jacket. But if you know your way around, you should not avoid going to places like this. But I do understand those who decide not to take the risk.
Palestinian shopkeepers say that's a wild exaggeration.
Certainly, the few European tourists here look relaxed. But the fact remains that since the intifada began, tensions have risen, and violence can break out without warning. Frequent clashes In the Old City after Friday prayers earlier this month, young Palestinians pelted Israeli riot police, a sign of their boiling frustration with Israeli occupation. It may not happen every day, but even occasional scenes like this are enough to scare off casual visitors. For Palestinians like Ali Jiddah, whose tour business depended on taking round Israelis, the intifada has spelt economic ruin.