At 5 p.m. local time, the "Shabbat" siren sounded. The siren lets the people of Jerusalem know the Sabbath has officially begun. Traffic slows down to a trickle, most businesses close and the entire city seems to breathe a sigh of relief from the week.
This week in Jerusalem was particularly tense. On Sunday, the week began with rock throwing from the Temple Mount by Arab protestors. They "protested" the designation by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that two sites - the Cave of the Patriarchs in Hebron and Rachel's Tomb in Bethlehem - would be considered Israeli heritage sites.
The designation of those sites would not change their physical status quo except to improve the infrastructure and accessibility to people of all religious persuasion. However, what really seemed to be at stake was the Jewish claim to sites also claimed by the Palestinians; this despite the obvious Biblical connection by the Jewish people to both the cave of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob and Rachel's tomb.
The week ended with rock throwing again from the Temple Mount that spread to other Jerusalem neighborhoods like Ras Alamud and Silwan. At least 15 police were wounded and several demonstrators were arrested.
Some might suspect these demonstrations are just "spontaneous" outbreaks of violence. But these actions are pre-meditated, coordinated and incited by groups like the Islamic Movement and/or the Palestinian Authority.
For example, one city council member told us earlier this week that the mayor's plan for improvement of an area where many illegal homes have been built is being thwarted by these groups. He said they've have threatened some of the residents not to agree to the plan since it would run counter to their Palestinian political goals.
For the next 24 hours, Jerusalem will likely remain quiet. But given the current tensions within the city, it might not last.
Next week, Vice President Joseph Biden will visit Israel. His main topic of discussion with Israeli leaders will be the nuclear threat of Iran. With tensions within Jerusalem and existential threats to the state of Israel, it's a powerful reminder to "pray for the peace of Jerusalem" as psalmist once wrote.