by Zach Waksman
Impunity Watch Reporter, Middle East
MAJDAL SHAMS, Golan Heights, Israel — This morning’s protest rally along the fence that marks the border between Syria and Israel became a battlefield when Israeli forces assembled along the fence shot at the assembled protesters.
The protest was scheduled to mark the 44th anniversary of the Arab world’s defeat in the Six-Day War of 1967 against Israel, known as “Naksa Day” or the “Day of Defeat.” In preparation for the protest, the Israeli military dug trenches and erected barbed wire at the border in an effort to stymie efforts to breach the borders. Despite these efforts, troops opened fire when protesters attempted to breach the fences, despite several warnings to stop. Syrian state television reported that as many as twelve people were killed, with dozens more injured.
One of the injured, 16-year-old Mohammed Hasan, said, “We want on this occasion to remind America and the whole world that we have a right to return to our country.” In commemorating the war, the rally was meant to bring the world’s eyes to the situation of an estimated half-million Palestinian refugees who lost their homes during Israel’s war of independence. Also among the injured was Palestinian politician Mustafa Bargouthi, who told Al-Jazeera that the he was one of several people who were beaten by Israeli soldiers as the protesters peacefully approached the Golan Heights checkpoint.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu disagreed with Bargouthi’s assessment. After last month’s protests resulted in hundreds of people breaking through a border fence and fighting with Israeli troop, he deployed thousands of troops to the borders as a deterrent. Netanyahu also instructed his troops to use restraint and decisiveness in facing down the protesters today. “Unfortunately, extremist forces around us are trying today to breach our borders and threaten our communities and our citizens. We will not let them do that,” he said.
Since the shootings, the Israeli military has said that the Syrian government was behind today’s incident in an effort to distract the world from its own unrest. Avital Leibovich, spokesman for the Israeli army, called the incident “an attempt to divert international attention from the bloodbath going on in Syria.”
Casualty counts are still unfinished.
For more information, please see:
Al Jazeera — Israeli forces fire at ‘Naksa’ Protesters — 5 June 2011
Arutz Sheva — IDF Digs Trenches to Stop Border Assaults — 5 June 2011
Atlanta Journal-Constitution — 12 dead as Israeli troops fire along Syrian border – 5 June 2011
Jerusalem Post — PM: We will protect borders with determination, restraint — 2 June 2011
