PROTESTERS SHOT BY ISRAELI FORCES ON BORDER

Breaking News2:19pm UK, Sunday June 05, 2011
Protesters 'Shot By Israeli Forces' On Border
Tweet 38 CommentsFour protesters, including a 12-year-old boy, have been shot dead by Israeli forces near the border fence on Golan Heights, Syrian state television is reporting.

Another 15 people were said to have been injured.

The violence occurred as a large crowd of pro-Palestinian demonstrators approached the border to mark the anniversary of the 1967 Six-Day War.

An Israeli military spokesman said the soldiers fired at demonstrators after warning them to back away.

"Despite numerous warnings, both verbal and later warning shots in the air, dozens of Syrians continue to approach the border and IDF (Israel Defence Force) forces were left with no choice but to open fire towards the feet of protesters in efforts to deter further actions," said a spokesman.

On the Israeli side, locals - many of whom are Syrian citizens - from the Golan Heights town of Majdal Shams shouted at the soldiers, calling on them to stop firing.

Meanwhile, the troops used loudspeakers to warn demonstrators in Arabic that "anyone who comes close to the fence will be responsible for their own blood."

Hundreds of protesters rushed towards the ceasefire line, attempting to cut through a line of barbed wire and head into the Golan Heights in a repeat of demonstrations last month, which saw thousands mass along Israel's north.


This is an attempt to divert international attention from the bloodbath going on in Syria.

Israeli military spokeswoman Lieutenant Colonel Avital Leibovich
On May 15, protesters massed on Israel's borders with Syria, Lebanon and Gaza, trying to force their way across on the anniversary of Israel's creation.

"Our aim is to plant the Syrian flag on the occupied land," protester Mohammed Shaiber told Syrian TV.

The Israeli military accused Syria of instigating the disturbances to deflect attention from its bloody crackdown on a popular uprising at home.

"This is an attempt to divert international attention from the bloodbath going on in Syria," said Lieutenant Colonel Avital Leibovich, an Israeli military spokeswoman.

"In the end, we are guarding our border," she said. "I wish they had obeyed our verbal warnings, but they chose instead to clash with the soldiers."

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told his Cabinet: "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."

Israel was bound to get involved eventually, well able to defend their borders but what happens next? The Middle East is a cauldron , where will it all end?

11 KILLED,220 WOUNDED

Badboy wrote:11 KILLED,220 WOUNDED

Hi Badboy, I knew Israel would be dragged into this , but Militarily they are well able to defend themselves. All we need now is for a Helicopter to
be shot down and there will be a public outcry. Nato is so obsessed with getting rid of Gaddafi at any cost they are ignoring the plight of civilians in
other Countries getting killed.

'Israeli Forces Kill 23 Protesters' On Border
Tweet Comments3:45am UK, Monday June 06, 2011

At least twenty-three protesters, including a 12-year-old boy, have been shot dead by Israeli forces near the border fence on Golan Heights, Syrian state television is reporting.


Israeli soldiers have shot at Palestinian protesters at Golan Heights


Another 325 people were injured, according to the TV station.

The violence occurred as a large crowd of pro-Palestinian demonstrators approached the border to mark the anniversary of the 1967 Six-Day War.

An Israeli military spokesman said the soldiers fired at demonstrators after warning them to back away.

"Despite numerous warnings, both verbal and later warning shots in the air, dozens of Syrians continue to approach the border and IDF (Israel Defence Force) forces were left with no choice but to open fire towards the feet of protesters in efforts to deter further actions," said a spokesman.



Israeli soldiers fired on protesters as they approached the border


On the Israeli side, locals - many of whom are Syrian citizens - from the Golan Heights town of Majdal Shams shouted at the soldiers, calling on them to stop firing.

Meanwhile, the troops used loudspeakers to warn demonstrators in Arabic that "anyone who comes close to the fence will be responsible for their own blood."

Hundreds of protesters rushed towards the ceasefire line, attempting to cut through a line of barbed wire and head into the Golan Heights in a repeat of demonstrations last month, which saw thousands mass along Israel's north.

"Our aim is to plant the Syrian flag on the occupied land," protester Mohammed Shaiber told Syrian TV.


This is an attempt to divert international attention from the bloodbath going on in Syria.

Israeli military spokeswoman Lieutenant Colonel Avital Leibovich
On May 15, protesters massed on Israel's borders with Syria, Lebanon and Gaza, trying to force their way across on the anniversary of Israel's creation.

The Israeli military accused Syria of instigating the disturbances to deflect attention from its bloody crackdown on a popular uprising at home.



The unarmed protesters gathered to mark the Six-Day War anniversary


"This is an attempt to divert international attention from the bloodbath going on in Syria," said Lieutenant Colonel Avital Leibovich, an Israeli military spokeswoman.

"In the end, we are guarding our border," she said. "I wish they had obeyed our verbal warnings, but they chose instead to clash with the soldiers."

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told his Cabinet: "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 security forces had been ordered to show "maximum restraint".