IDF on Lebanon alert for Nakba Day demonstrations
LAST UPDATED: 05/13/2011 02:02
Northern Command sources say there are expectations that Palestinians in Lebanon will travel to the border to participate in protests.
Palestinian protester and IDF soldier in Bil'in Photo: Reuters
IDF troops will be deployed in large numbers throughout the West Bank and along
the border with Lebanon on Friday, amid expectations that massive demonstrations
will break out on both fronts ahead of Nakba Day (“the day of the
catastrophe”).
The IDF began reinforcing troops in the West Bank earlier
this week, and sources in the Northern Command said on Thursday that there were
expectations that Palestinians in Lebanon will also travel to the border to
participate in the protests.
RELATED:
Security and Defense: Bracing for mass protests Police reinforce capital, North amid concern over protests
Galilee Arabs to hold 'Nakba March'
Several Palestinian groups have called for
large demonstrations along Israel’s various borders ahead of Nakba Day, which is
the Palestinian commemoration of the establishment of the State of Israel in
1948. Expectations are that the demonstrations will start on Friday, and last
until Sunday.
Expected hotspots in the West Bank include the Kalandiya
Checkpoint outside of Jerusalem, near the Ofer Prison off Road 443, as well as
Nablus, Tulkarm and Ramallah.
The demonstrations are expected to include
stone-throwing, but not live weapons.
Officers from the IDF’s Northern
Command spoke with UNIFIL this week, and warned of severe consequences if
Palestinian demonstrators try to damage the border fence between Israel and
Lebanon during the demonstrations.
“We respect people’s right to protest,
but we will not tolerate damage caused to infrastructure, like the border
fence,” an IDF officer said.