Israeli army braced for more protests along borders

Israeli army braced for more protests along borders

JERUSALEM, June 7 (Xinhua) -- The Israeli army forces stationedalong the borders with Syria and Lebanon and in the West Bankremained on high alert Tuesday amid concerns of a repeat of Sunday's "Naksa Day" bid by pro-Palestinian protestors to storm the Israel-controlled area.

Military sources said the troop deployment near the Golan Heightsvillage of Majdal Shams, which overlooks the border with Syria, willcontinue on the "Al-Quds Day", or "Jerusalem Day", which marksIsrael's capture of Jerusalem's eastern part in the 1967 war.

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) also beefed up the presence oftroops in the West Bank amid assessments of a potential outbreak ofmass demonstrations there.

Syrian state television reported that 23 pro-Palestiniandemonstrators were killed and over 300 were injured Sunday, whenthey attempted to cross the security barrier near Majdal Shams.

Israeli army officials said troops deployed near Majdal Shams hadused live ammunition as a last resort, after the rioters ignoredrepeated warnings in Arabic not to approach the border fence. Thesoldiers had also fired warning shots in the air and at protesters'legs before sharpshooters were ordered to fire lethal shots.

Four rioters were killed and an unknown number of people wereinjured near Majdal Shams on May 15, when hundreds of protestersstormed the border fence in commemoration of the "Nakba Day", whichmarks the anniversary of the "catastrophe" of Israel's establishmentin 1948.

Of all the Israeli borders, the one shared with Syria has beenthe calmest in the past 44 years, though Israel's occupation of theterritory has since remained a bitter point of contention betweenthe two countries.

An IDF senior command has voiced concern in recent days thatPalestinian protestors were seeking to turn the border near MajdalShams into the scene of regular demonstrations in a similar fashionto weekly protests held in some West Bank villages.

As of now, the three IDF battalions deployed in the area havebeen engaged in preparations to counter more protests. All the threewere scheduled to launch annual training maneuvers, which have beenpostponed until further notice, the Ha'aretz daily reported Tuesday.

IDF Chief of Staff Benny Gantz visited the area on Monday. "Weare prepared to set up any obstacle and to activate our defensesagainst possible terrorist threats and mass attempts to cross theborders," Gantz said in a statement.

Meanwhile, an Internet campaign calling on Palestinians to taketo the streets continued on Tuesday, with organizers hoping for alarge turnout to cap the last day of a three-day "Naksa Day"commemoration.

Jerusalem District Police was on high alert ahead of plannedmarches as a show of loyalty to the city's Al-Aksa Mosque, Islam'sthird-holiest site.

Despite the assessments, no violent incidents were registered inJerusalem or the West Bank.