2011 Nakba Day: Difference between revisions - Wikipedia

Line 48:

===Syria===

In Syria, the demonstrations were organized by phone and Internet by Palestinian refugees, most of them university students independent of any political faction, in response to the call for a "Third Palestinian Intifada" on Facebook.<ref name=Golan>{{cite web|url=https://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5hORDwISozjMd3J4mnoJRPRbpY9vA?docId=CNG.24720c3e4e4b36a7a28281c90f818eda.281 |title=Shot Palestinian youth proud of Golan protest |publisher=Google.com |date=2011-05-18 |accessdate=2013-10-02}}</ref><ref name=Nabulsi/> Demonstrators gathered near the Israeli-Syrian [[Purple Line (ceasefire line)|ceasefire line]] waving Palestinian flags. The first wave of demonstrators was stopped by Syrian police, who were later overtaken when a second group arrived.<ref name=MEO/> About 1,000 demonstrators approached the fence, and some 300 children among them, rushed toward the fence.<ref name="BBC"/><ref name=YNETG/> Some managed to breach the border and enter the Israeli side of the ceasefire line. The sole Israeli military patrol present was overwhelmed and opened fire on the demonstrators, who threw stones at Israeli troops.<ref name=MEO>{{cite web |url=http://www.middle-east-online.com/english/?id=46168 |title='They crossed minefields,' Golan residents marvel |publisher=Middle-east-online.com |date=2011-05-17 |accessdate=2013-10-02 |archive-date=2011-08-08 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110808050113/http://www.middle-east-online.com/english/?id=46168 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Four demonstrators were killed and dozens injured.<ref name="AJE"/> The dead were Palestinian refugees: Qais Abu Alheija from Houd, Bashar Ali Shahabi from [[Lubya]], Samer Khartabeel from [[Tiberias]], and Abadah Zaghmout from [[Safsaf]].<ref name=Nabulsi>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2011/may/19/nakba-day-palestinian-summer |title=Nakba day: we waited 63 years for this |publisher=Guardian |date= 2011-05-19|accessdate=2013-10-02 |location=London |first=Karma |last=Nabulsi}}</ref> Two demonstrators were arrested and detained, but were returned to Syria.<ref name=YNETr/> About a dozen Israeli soldiers injured by stone-throwing during the clashes, and suffered mild-to-moderate injuries. Among the injured was the Israeli commander, Colonel Eshkol Shukrun, who was hit in the face.<ref name=YNETG/>

More than a hundred demonstrators managed to bypass the fence and enter the Arab [[Druze]] town of [[Majdal Shams]].<ref name=YNETG>{{cite web|url=http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4069033,00.html|title=IDF says handled border breach well|work=ynet}}</ref><ref name=HaaretzP>{{cite web|last=Arens |first=Moshe |url=http://www.haaretz.com/print-edition/news/idf-unprepared-for-syria-border-breach-despite-intelligence-tips-1.362173 |title=IDF unprepared for Syria border breach, despite intelligence tips |publisher=Haaretz.com |date=2011-05-17 |accessdate=2013-10-02}}</ref> Arab residents of the [[Golan Heights]], many of whom still hold Syrian citizenship, had gathered near the fence when they heard shots, and welcomed those who entered Majdal Shams, offering them food and drink.<ref name=MEO/> The demonstrators eventually headed back to Syria after negotiations, and police combed the area for any additional infiltrators. At least one demonstrator, Hassan Hijazi, a 28-year-old Palestinian refugee, managed to hitch a ride to central Israel with Israeli and French Arab peace activists, and reached [[Tel Aviv]] by bus, even sitting alongside Israeli soldiers.<ref name=YNETr/> After finding his old family home in [[Jaffa]], he turned himself in at a police station, saying he had fulfilled a lifelong ambition.<ref name=Telegraph19>{{cite news|last=Blomfield |first=Adrian |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/middleeast/israel/8524356/Israel-braced-for-further-Palestinian-protests.html |title=Israel braced for further Palestinian protests |publisher=Telegraph.co.uk |date= 2011-05-19|accessdate=2013-10-02 |location=London}}</ref>