The marking of Land Day, an annual protest of Palestinian and Israeli Arabs to commemorate the deaths of six Palestinians in a 1976 Israeli land grab, has touched off a round of early violence. Israeli security forces have prepared for the demonstrations by mobilizing hundreds of police and thousand of soldiers across the tiny country to protect its people from any potential threat.
So far, skirmishes have broken out between Palestinian protesters and Israeli security forces at the Qalandiya checkpoint on the outskirts of Jerusalem. Containment may not be a word of any value among Israeli security hawks these days, but that's primarily what they are trying to achieve and maintain for the next 48-72 hours. Eager to retreat behind the shadows of other global concerns, the Israeli government is bracing itself for three tumultuous days of the world's scrutiny and the inevitable public relations damage to follow.
The Israelis announced a general closure of the West Bank from late on Thursday until late on Friday "in accordance with security assessments". Additional security measures included police imposing an age limit on worshippers attending the weekly Friday prayers at the Al-Aqsa mosque compound in Jerusalem's old city.
With supporters in neighbouring countries also planning marches near the Israeli borders in a solidarity event dubbed a "Global March to Jerusalem", Israel's entire security apparatus will remain on high alert until the event blows over. Palestinian organizers said that activists from 82 countries were expected to participate in Land Day activities. Mahmoud Aloul, a Palestinian leader in the occupied West Bank, said demonstrations would also be held in Bethlehem.
In a statement to mark the day, Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erakat said Israel's policy of denying access to land was "at the heart of the conflict”. Palestinians had a right to demonstrate peacefully and to demand "the fulfillment of their national and legal rights", he said. The Land Grab
Comments
Post a Comment