Israel kills 12, injures dozens in border clash with protesters
Source: Agencies |
May 16, 2011, Monday
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Print Edition
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ISRAELI troops clashed with Arab protesters along three hostile borders yesterday, leaving 12 people dead and dozens wounded in an unprecedented wave of violence marking the anniversary of the mass displacement of Palestinians surrounding Israel's establishment in 1948.
In the most serious incident, the Israel Defence Force said that thousands of protesters approached Syria's border with the Israeli-controlled Golan Heights. It said hundreds of people burst through the border and soldiers opened fire to stop them. Dozens were wounded and six were killed.
Deadly clashes also took place along Israel's nearby northern border with Lebanon, as well as in the Gaza Strip, near Israel's southern border.
The unrest came as the Palestinians marked the "nakba," or "catastrophe," the term they use to describe the uprooting they suffered at the time of Israel's founding on May 15, 1948.
The protesters were believed to be Palestinians who live in refugee camps in Syria.
"Israel may be 63 years old today but its days are numbered," said Abbas Jomaa, 50, who was carrying his 4-year-old son on his shoulders and holding a Palestinian flag. "Sooner or later we will return."
Israeli TV channels broadcast scenes, taken from Arab stations, of what appeared to be thousands of people gathering along the Syrian border with the Golan, with large crowds throwing objects at the fence. Dozens of people could be seen cutting through the fence and storming across to the Israeli side.
In a statement, the Israeli military said "thousands of Syrian civilians" breached the border. "IDF forces opened fire in order to prevent the violent rioters from illegally infiltrating Israeli territory, 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," the statement said.
About 40 kilometers to the west, Israeli troops clashed with a large crowd of Lebanese demonstrators who approached the border. The military said it opened fire when protesters tried to damage the border fence. Lebanese security officials reported four dead.
It is the most serious violence along the volatile border since Israel fought Lebanese Hezbollah guerrillas during a monthlong war five years ago.
Hundreds of Lebanese soldiers, UN peacekeepers and riot police have been deployed in the area.
(AP)
In the most serious incident, the Israel Defence Force said that thousands of protesters approached Syria's border with the Israeli-controlled Golan Heights. It said hundreds of people burst through the border and soldiers opened fire to stop them. Dozens were wounded and six were killed.
Deadly clashes also took place along Israel's nearby northern border with Lebanon, as well as in the Gaza Strip, near Israel's southern border.
The unrest came as the Palestinians marked the "nakba," or "catastrophe," the term they use to describe the uprooting they suffered at the time of Israel's founding on May 15, 1948.
The protesters were believed to be Palestinians who live in refugee camps in Syria.
"Israel may be 63 years old today but its days are numbered," said Abbas Jomaa, 50, who was carrying his 4-year-old son on his shoulders and holding a Palestinian flag. "Sooner or later we will return."
Israeli TV channels broadcast scenes, taken from Arab stations, of what appeared to be thousands of people gathering along the Syrian border with the Golan, with large crowds throwing objects at the fence. Dozens of people could be seen cutting through the fence and storming across to the Israeli side.
In a statement, the Israeli military said "thousands of Syrian civilians" breached the border. "IDF forces opened fire in order to prevent the violent rioters from illegally infiltrating Israeli territory, 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," the statement said.
About 40 kilometers to the west, Israeli troops clashed with a large crowd of Lebanese demonstrators who approached the border. The military said it opened fire when protesters tried to damage the border fence. Lebanese security officials reported four dead.
It is the most serious violence along the volatile border since Israel fought Lebanese Hezbollah guerrillas during a monthlong war five years ago.
Hundreds of Lebanese soldiers, UN peacekeepers and riot police have been deployed in the area.
(AP)
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