Jerusalemites are still digesting the massive victory of the Islamic Hamas movement in the Palestinian poll. As the sun warmed the narrow, meandering streets of the Mount of Olives, Ghazi observed that most of the people who live here did not vote."They are afraid that they will lose their healthcare and pensions if Israel finds out they vote in Palestinian elections."
They feel that Israel would be particularly angry if they were caught voting for Hamas, although they support Hamas, he said. "They see no reason to take the risk. Since the Sulta [ the Palestinian Authority] was established in '96, it has done nothing for them. It has not built schools or hospitals. Instead it built a casino in Jericho."
Damascus gate, the main entrance to the Old City of Jerusalem, was bustling at noon. Inside the walled city, men and women were shopping for food ahead of the weekly Friday holiday, selecting fruit and vegetables from stall sellers, watching as coffee beans were freshly ground.
A woman dressed in an embroidered traditional gown proffered bunches of fresh mint, calling out, "na'na, na'na," another was selling silvery-green mountain thyme. Hamas was not their main concern. One man refused to discuss the election. "I know nothing about it. It has nothing to do with me."
The well-dressed, bearded owner of a shop selling menswear said that it does not matter who rules the Palestinians. "The Israelis don't want to make peace with us. They have had many years to come to terms with us. The Americans can push them to make peace, but they don't. Also, the English can press Israel.
"The Israelis say they want peace, but this is a lie. They lie and lie and lie to the people.
"The ordinary people, both Jewish and Arab, pay the price of no peace, not their governments."
No one in the shops or passing in the street called Khan al-Zeit (the Olive Oil Inn) that leads to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, had the telltale blue index finger of a voter.
Two school friends, one girl wearing a headscarf, the other not, expressed concern that Hamas would impose an Islamic dress code on all women.
"We must be free to dress as we like," said the girl without the scarf. Her friend agreed. "We do not all think or act the same. We must do what we think right."
A handsome man with grey eyes and a red and white chequered headdress had very strong opinions on Hamas.
"This result is bad for Hamas. Its people follow the teachings of Islam. They don't steal and cheat and lie. But once they take power they will start to steal, cheat and compromise.
"Then they will lie like the others. It is also very bad for us because once Hamas begins to speak to Israel, the Arabs will begin normalising with Israel. As long as Hamas held out, the Arabs were reluctant to deal with Israel."