During the so-called Second Intifada, many Jerusalem stores suffered, some compelled to close down entirely. Ben-Yehuda Street and other areas of downtown Yerushalayim became a ghost town as security fears distanced shoppers and visitors from those areas.

Today security fears are beginning to return as Arab violence is becoming a daily event and with regular attacks against Egged buses and the Jerusalem light rail. Today the violence is in periphery areas and areas that are predominately Arab, not in downtown areas, but business owners are becoming concerned.

While elected officials and security commanders insist the violence is not the first signs of a Third Intifada, a growing number of business owners report daily sales have already declined.

On the optimistic side, Machane Yehuda was filled to capacity at the end of last week as were area cafes despite the cooler weather and showers. Store owners in the shuk do not appears pessimistic, but warn “if chas v’sholom a bus blows up that will be the end”.

Some statistics: During September 2014, officials recorded 205,000 visitor entries into the capital, representing a 20% decline from September 2013. 179,000 of those entries were tourists, 15% fewer than in September 2013.

The experts state that this signals despite a growing tourism industry in the capital, following Operation Protective Edge in Gaza and increasing Arab attacks and terrorism in areas of the capital, that trend has reversed itself in September.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)