Palestinians honor border dead
Source: Agencies |
May 17, 2011, Tuesday
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Print Edition
Print Edition
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas yesterday declared three days of mourning for 15 people killed in mass marches toward Israel's borders from Gaza, Syria and Lebanon that marked a stunning new tactic in the struggle for Palestinian statehood.
Sunday's marches, on the date Palestinians mourn their uprooting after Israel's 1948 creation, illustrated Arab dissatisfaction with the deadlocked efforts to establish a Palestinian state. The unprecedented tactic also reflected an Arab world emboldened by the anti-government protests sweeping the Middle East this year.
Abbas, who is pursuing alternative routes to statehood after a breakdown in peace talks with Israel, quickly embraced those who tried to breach Israel's borders. "Their blood will not be spilled in vain, because their blood was spilled for the freedom and rights of our people," he said. Flags at public buildings in the West Bank were lowered to half-staff.
Some in Israel suspected an Iranian hand in the attempted border breaches. Palestinian officials said the marches were a purely Palestinian initiative, organized on Facebook by activists, many of them living in exile.
Israel said it would file a complaint against Syria and Lebanon at the UN late yesterday.
Early yesterday, the unrest spilled over into Egypt, where riot police fired tear gas and live ammunition to disperse pro-Palestinian protesters.
Sunday's marches, on the date Palestinians mourn their uprooting after Israel's 1948 creation, illustrated Arab dissatisfaction with the deadlocked efforts to establish a Palestinian state. The unprecedented tactic also reflected an Arab world emboldened by the anti-government protests sweeping the Middle East this year.
Abbas, who is pursuing alternative routes to statehood after a breakdown in peace talks with Israel, quickly embraced those who tried to breach Israel's borders. "Their blood will not be spilled in vain, because their blood was spilled for the freedom and rights of our people," he said. Flags at public buildings in the West Bank were lowered to half-staff.
Some in Israel suspected an Iranian hand in the attempted border breaches. Palestinian officials said the marches were a purely Palestinian initiative, organized on Facebook by activists, many of them living in exile.
Israel said it would file a complaint against Syria and Lebanon at the UN late yesterday.
Early yesterday, the unrest spilled over into Egypt, where riot police fired tear gas and live ammunition to disperse pro-Palestinian protesters.
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