Tag Archives: nakba

International

Israeli tanks laying smoke at Lebanese border, protesters killed

May 15. Five protesters killed, 20 wounded by Israeli troops. Reports that UN peacekeepers in Lebanon are trying to stop protesters from getting to Israeli border.  Live video of Israeli tanks now laying smoke at Lebanese border fence, where protesters on Lebanon side are approaching, might attempt crossing.  Protesters waving Palestinian flags.  Live reporter says he can hear shots fired, says protesters are not armed. Reports that Israeli troops and tanks are building on Lebanese border.  Protester on Lebanon side of border wounded by Israeli soldier, protester was not on Israeli side of border.

International

Israel imposes lockdown, Apache helicopters & F-16s over Gaza, tanks open fire on Gaza, teenager killed

May 15,  journalists reporting that Israeli Apache copters and F-16s flying over Gaza. Live video shows ambulances arriving at scene of Israeli shootings in Ramalla. Israel imposes 24 hour lockdown on Palestinian territories, Israeli tanks have opened fired on Gaza. A Palestinian teenager has been killed in Gaza, at least 65 people wounded.  Violence in Ramalla, West Bank, Israeli troops shooting at people, at least 30 people wounded including a journalist, streets full of debris and tire fires.

Protesters include people from Europe and North America, and even from Japan.  One Japanese was interviewed live, she said the plight of the Palestinians has become “the” symbol of injustice for the whole world.

 

International, Opinion

10,000 Israeli Police bracing for Nakba protests

Israeli media reporting that 10,000 police are being used for the expected Nakba protests.  Officials say they will allow protests, but not violence.

But already Israeli military forces have committed violence by attacking a funeral precession, for a teenager that was killed by them a few days earlier.

The police units are being focused around Jerusalem (where the funeral was attacked), and northern Israel.  This is probably because Egypt and Jordan are blocking protesters from reaching the Israeli border, but Lebanon, to Israel’s north, has not indicated that they will do the same.

 

International, Opinion

Egyptian Army blocking access to Sinai Peninsula, Egyptian government still pro-Israel

Despite demands by the people of Egypt to be allowed to protest the Israeli occupation of Palestine, the Egyptian Army is blocking access to the Sinai Peninsula, in order to keep Egyptians from reaching the Israeli border at Gaza.

Some Egyptian politicians have stated that the Egyptian blockade against Gaza is being done to support Israel and the United States, and have asked for its end.  But the fact that the Egyptian Army is stopping people from protesting the blockade, and Israel, is proof the so called “new” Egyptian government is still being controlled by the U.S. and Israel.

International

Egyptian military preventing Egyptians from marching on Israeli border

In a live report on Iranian TV, a reporter said that Egyptians who where planning on demonstrating on the Israeli border are being prevented by the Egyptian Army.

Egyptians say they chartered dozens of buses to take them to the border along Gaza. However, those bus companies say they have been ordered by the Egyptian Army not to do so.

In the past week many Egyptians made statements about protesting Israel on May 15.  They even asked for the Egyptian Army to support them in their demonstrations.  Reports that the new Egyptian government is trying to block such anti-Israel demonstrations shows that new government is not in line with the Egyptian people.  Egyptians say they will find other ways to get to the Israeli border.

 

International, U.S.

Obama’s peace envoy to the Middle East resigns, right before the anniversary of the Nakba

President Obama’s man for peace in the Middle East throws in the towel, just in time for a massive May 15 march on Israeli borders by Egyptians, Jordanians and Lebanese.

There are yet to be any official statements about George Mitchell’s resignation.  There is speculation that the unification of Palestinian political parties Hamas and Fatah (and other groups) is a factor.

The Israeli government recently said that with Fatah united with Hamas, there could be no more peace talks.

 

International

Israel boosts border forces, bans access to Al-Aqsa Mosque

Israeli officials are concerned about upcoming Nakba demonstrations by Palestinians, Egyptians, Jordanians and Lebanese.  The demonstrations come one day after Israel celebrates its so called “Independence”.

Israelis are increasing military and police forces along their borders with Egypt, Jordan and Lebanon. They have also banned access to Al-Aqsa Mosque (aka Temple Mount). Only men more than 45 years old, and having Israeli ID will be allowed in.

Israeli officials say intelligence has picked up a huge increase in internet and cell phone activity between Palestinians.  In Gaza alone, officials expect at least a quarter million demonstrators on May 15.

 

International

Millions of people in the Middle East demonstrate for Palestinan freedom, Day of Unity prior to Nakba anniversary

May 13, hundreds of thousands of Egyptians are demonstrating in Cairo and Alexandria.  The demonstrators are calling for unity within Egypt, for former Mubarak officials to be brought to trial, and freedom for Palestinians.

In Jordan, hundreds of thousands of people are demonstrating, calling for the freedom of Palestinians.  People of Jordan and Lebanon are also planning on marching on Israel’s borders on May 15.

May 13 is National Unity Day in Egypt.  The Nakba, when Palestinians officially lost most of their land to Israel, is May 15.  Egyptians are planning a million man march to the Israeli/Egyptian border at Gaza, on May 15.

Earlier in the week, Palestinians in Fatah controlled West Bank, and Hamas controlled Gaza, held huge “Unity” demonstrations.