Did he have to come at Passover? In Jerusalem, locals grumble

ToI’s Raphael Ahren has been speaking to Jerusalemites as Obama heads their way:

“If it were up to me, he could stay home. He’s killing business for three days,” says Eitay, who works at the Avi Manko barbershop on Jerusalem’s Azza Street, meters away from the Prime Minister’s Residence. “I really couldn’t care less about this visit. So people say that he gives a lot of money to Israel, but he’s doing that only to get elected. We could always get the money elsewhere.”

His boss disagrees, kind of. “Maybe he’ll bring Pollard with him,” he says, referring to the American-Israeli spy serving a life sentence in a US prison. (Obama didn’t.)

“I don’t mind that he’s coming,” Manko adds, “but why does it have to be at Passover? It’s really bad for business.” Observant Jews usually get haircuts shortly before the holiday, as they refrain from doing so during the seven-week “Omer” period between Pessah and Shavuot.

On Hanassi Street, named after the Israeli presidents who officially reside there, traffic has come to a halt. Even before the police closed off the streets, few cars could be seen. Most people in the neighborhood planned in advance so as not to leave their houses too much while the president is in town. One pedestrian says her painting class was canceled today because of the prominent guest’s arrival.

A few steps further, at the “President’s Kiosk,” where foreign diplomats occasionally stop by to grab a last cup of coffee before their audiences with the president, business is good. “We’re very busy,” an employee says while handing some tomatoes to a customer. Inside the store, most of his clients are policemen and secret service staff getting a last snack.

Chana, who has lived for 45 years on the corner of Radak and Hanassi streets, right in front of the President’s Residence, says she has seen all previous visits by US presidents in Israel. “I’m happy that he’s coming, if he promotes good things” such as the peace process, she says. Will he be able to achieve anything? “I want to believe so,” she says. “I can only tell you what the political commentators say. That he’s neutral in the conflict, and of course we’d like him to be more on our side.”

Although she is generally positive about Obama, Chana points to a huge truck that US officials have parked right in front of her house. “Do you see the see the stinking fumes that come from the generator in the truck? It’s unbearable,” she complains.