Sunday, May 15, 2011

Thirteen killed as Israeli troops open fire on Nakba Day border protests




Many more wounded in clashes at Israel's borders with Syria, Gaza and Lebanon, as UN appeals for 'maximum restraint'

Harriet Sherwood in Jerusalem
guardian.co.uk, Sunday 15 May 2011

"....Thousands of Palestinian refugees in Syria marched towards the village of Majdal Shams in the Golan Heights, which Israel captured from Syria in 1967. At least four people were killed by Israeli troops as they crossed the border, Israel Radio reported. Up to 20 were injured, according to the Israeli Magen David Adom ambulance service.

A statement from the Israeli military said: "Thousands of Syrian civilians breached the Israel-Syria border [Keep in mind that Israel has annexed the Golan Heights and the "Israel-Syria border" is the border of the Golan Heights!] near the Israeli village of Majdal Shams.

"IDF forces opened fire in order to prevent the violent rioters from illegally infiltrating Israeli territory [meaning the occupied Golan.]. A number of rioters have infiltrated and are violently rioting in the village. From initial reports there are dozens of injured that are receiving medical care in a nearby hospital."

Most of the inhabitants of Majdal Shams, a large village close to the border, hold Syrian citizenship and have family on the other side of the border, from whom they are cut off. The Israeli army declared the area, which is heavily mined, a closed military zone on Sunday.

Despite being occupied by Israel for 44 years, the Golan is usually calm. Syria has repeatedly demanded Israel hand back the area.

A similar Nakba Day protest on the Lebanon border led to four people being killed and around 15 wounded, according to Lebanese media reports. Dozens of protesters approached the border from the Lebanese town of Maroun a-Ras....."

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