I think that when Avi K says he is an ‘observer’ of the Yerushalayim scene, he means that he sometimes sees chareidim at the Kosel.
Well, many of us don’t even go there. I myself haven’t seen the Kosel for something like 2-3 years (and I was living in Yerushalayim until 1 year ago). And in my 6 years in E”Y I have never been to Chevron, not even once – my rov told me not to go there, it is not accepted in the circles with which I affiliated when I was there.
Of course some would then simply claim that I must have been part of a miniscule extremist group, but in fact I’m talking about one of the largest, most important groups in Yerushalayim, and plenty of others follow the same rules as well.
I was always a bit of a strange duck, though, for having plenty of outside connections (I never limited my world to include only people with 1 specific hashkofoh). I respect everyone for what they believe – within certain limits – as long as they respect me. That includes Dati Leumim, Chardalim, Mizrachim, Litvaks, all various chassidim, and anything and everything in between. The only thing I cannot stand is those who twist the truth for their own purposes. (I am *not* accusing anyone of doing that here – just making a general remark.)