U.S. accuses Syria of inciting Israel border clashes
Lebanese delegation files complaint at UN after 10 people killed in border clashes; Israel's delegation plans to follow suit, with complaints against both Syria and Lebanon.
By Reuters Tags: Israel news NakbaThe White House on Monday accused Syria of inciting deadly border clashes between Israeli troops and Palestinian demonstrators, saying Damascus was trying to distract attention from its own violent crackdown on protests.
White House spokesman Jay Carney expressed regret for the loss of life in confrontations on Israel's frontiers with Syria, Lebanon and Gaza on Sunday but said Israel "has the right to prevent unauthorized crossing at its borders."
 |
Palestinian children from UNRWA school carry flags as they salute and sing the national anthem to commemorate Nakba in near the port-city of Sidon in south Lebanon May 14, 2011. |
| Photo by: Reuters |
"We urge maximum restraint on all sides," Carney told reporters on Air Force One as President Barack Obama flew to Tennessee.
Israeli troops opened fire at three separate border locations to prevent crowds of demonstrators from crossing, killing at least 13 people.
Syrian media reports said Israeli gunfire killed two people after dozens of Palestinians infiltrated the Golan Heights from Syria, along a front line that has been largely tranquil for decades.
The White House put the onus on the government of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad for the violence that broke out on the Israeli-Syrian border.
Carney said the administration was "strongly opposed to the Syrian government's involvement in inciting yesterday's protests in the Golan Heights."
"Such behavior is unacceptable and does not serve as a distraction from the Syrian government's ongoing repression of demonstrators in its own country," he said.
"It seems apparent to us that this is an effort to distract attention from the legitimate expressions of protest by the Syrian people, and from the harsh crackdown that the Syrian government has perpetrated against its own people," he added.
The Obama administration has tightened sanctions on senior Syrian officials to try to pressure Damascus to halt its crackdown on pro-democracy protests, but international human rights groups have criticized Washington for not taking stronger action.
Some Israeli officials suspect an Iranian hand in the attempted border breaches, with the help of Tehran's allies in the region: Syria, Hezbollah in Lebanon and Hamas in Gaza.
The Israeli delegation to the United Nations announced Monday that it would file a complaint to the UN Security Council against Syria and Lebanon regarding the Nakba Day border clashes.
The Lebanese delegation to the UN filed a complaint against Israel over the clashes, after the Lebanese army said that 10 people were killed and 112 were wounded in Maroun a-Ras when IDF troops opened fire on demonstrators trying to cross the border.
IDF sources said, however, that both Israeli and Lebanese forces opened fire to prevent demonstrators from crossing the border.
Israeli security forces were on alert for more violence on Monday, fearing that the events of the day prior may be serve as a model for additional violence aimed toward Israel and trigger further protests for Palestinian refugees.
Why Facebook Connect?
Comment on Haaretz.com articles with your Facebook login, and share your thoughts on your own wall.
- Latest
- Most Viewed
- Most Rated
- Open all
Netanyahu sits with his Obama on his lap. Wave to the people Barak Bibi says. Bibi's fingers move and Barak's arms wave. Bibi, with lips barley moving says "Iran and Syria are responsible!" as Barak Obama's jaw flaps up and down.
Jay Carney, you, like the rest of your government members, like Obama and Clinton and the entire White House members, are no more than accessories to murder. Everywhere you go, you create tension and death. By supporting dictators and criminal governments, like Yemen, Bahrain, Israel and Saudi Arabia, your country has been responsible and still is responsible for the deaths of thousands upon thousands of innocent civilians. America is the biggest violence inciting country the world has ever known. America has created the misery and death that we now see worldwide. Look in the mirror before you accuse others and you will see who is to blame. It is America and America only to be blamed.
but will it satisfy our leftists?
The claim that we hate killing you and arresting you first advanced by Golda Meir has expired. Israel likes killing and has no phoney reservations. When 10,000 refugees swarm a border checkpoint next month what will Israel do? Machine gun them as called for in the rules of engagement. The Golan Heights is claimed as Israel territory and Syria should take it back.
Isn't it ironic, the Israeli "democracy" dependent on two dictators for protection from the Palestinian refugees.
We had two border incidents this weekend, the ones spoken of here in Israel and the ones in SE Turkey. We will have another incident again in approximately a month on the seas near Israel. Can Turkey's Foreign Minister Davutoğlu make a clear statement on Turkey's position on the right to protect borders? I have to yet hear Mr. Davutoğlu come out and make a statement on Turkey's position on border security.
is for anarchists. The people here abuse the word "illegal" to the point where is has no meaning. And yet, none of you will accept something as legal unless you feel it's your entitlement.
Rather than recognizing the legitimate aspirations of the Palestinian people to return to their homeland from which they were uprooted in 1948, blame it all on the Syrians... it must be their fault!
Tony, please... virtually every text book which deals with history of antiquity notes the Jewish sovereignty over Israel, Judea and Samaria. Any map of the Mid-East during antiquity calls the areas Judea, Israel and Samaria. Furthermore many names of areas in Israel still have their Hebrew names which even the Arabs use (eg Hebron) Galilee (Galil) . Jerusalem is called Yerushalaim in hebrew (city of peace). Armageddon is derived from the Hebrew Har Meggido in Hebrew: (mount Megiddo in English). All these places you can find under these names in those maps
The one which will receive attention. As for that of Israel it will receive the same contempt and disregard as Israel has demonstrated for past UN resolutions relating to the actions of that State.
Come on, we're Bombing Tripoli, but saying, "Tut tut." to the Israelis. They did the same thing: killing unarmed unarmed protesters. Perhaps we should order NATO to invade Tel Aviv or at least bomb Netanyahu's palace. Otherwise the BO/Clinton team speaks with a forked tongue!
As long as USA have power Palestinians have no chance not only for independence but also for existence on their land
The US is quite right. Syria instigated the protests to deflect attention from its own internal protests. If the Arabs sent poison gas over Israel and all Israeli's were killed, the leftist supporters on this site would condone such action.
After all, they're not only invading the sovereignty of 3 or 4 countries at the present time but also smack dab in the middle of Mexico, after they stole half of the country from those people. Hypocrites!
Israel has a right to defend it's borders. Us would shoot mexicans trying to find jobs if they tried to cross with violence. A border is a border like it or not my Arab cusins. Israel treats the Arabs with mote dignety and human rights than any Arab/ Muslim goverment! Because Israel is THE JEWISH state. Learn to live with the Jews in your nighbourhood and the whole middel east will be better off. Tal from Canada.
Next, they'll be blaming Iran. The attack against Libya is going well, next will be Syria and Iran. They have to make sure they can buy and many friends for Israel to play with as possible
guarding your border with lethal force is legal.
If the White House wants to "show restraint then STOP SENDING WEAPONS .... !!!!!!!!!!
It seems to me that Syria, Lebanon, and the Palestinians have been shooting rockets unprovoked for years. Why is it that noone takes the side of our ONLY true ally in the Middle East, Israel. It will come back to haunt us when we need them, which is only a matter of time. Wake up and smell the coffee - Israel does not attack unless they are first attacked - see who the true problems are and act accordingly.
They were trying to invade it.
Israel does not occupy the Golan heights illegally. Syria commenced a war against Israel in June 1967. Israel won and captured the Golan heights, which she can legally occupy until Syria agrees to a peace agreement with Israel. So far this has not happened.
If you mean by, Syria attacking Israel and losing the Golan Heights? Then you are correct. Open a history book. Syria had the Golan Heights until they started a war with Israel and lost, end of story.
Wrong. Nakba day is about the EXPULSION (by policy) of Arabs from Palestine. This is a deliberate attempt to misrepresent the facts. Shame.
NOW is the time to end all foreign and military aid. Including Israel! Instead of cutting US retirees benifits, Medicare and medicaid! If they can't make it after 60+ yrs. tough luck!
It is israeli land,not palestinian land,read historical records and the bible esspecially
That was the Israel Hasbara machine throwing their propaganda and lies to see if would stick
Just so that I understand this....Lebanon is complaining to the UN about Israel shooting border infiltrators who are syrian, but they are SILENT on the much higher number of dead at the hand of the syrian gov't!!!!
If these "unarmed demonstrators" had stayed on their side of the border, waved their flags and chanted, but made no attempts to cross the border line and attack Israeli troops, none of this would have happened. Of course, that is not what Assad and Hezbollah (and likely Iran) wanted - but you are too stupid to see all this and connect the dots.
and always met with armed response in the middle east
The USA can tell nobody about the invasion of borders. With the exception of Native Americans, all residents of the USA are illegal immigrants!
it is where the big ass fence is with the barbwire on top.
and Mexicans did the same as the Palestinians, they'd all be shot dead before they could make two steps over the boarder.
What borders does bully israel have? are those borders recognized by the International Communities?
All of Israel's borders are self-appointed so until they agree to internationaloly recognised borders, nobody is guilty of violating them!
Israel has internationally recognized borders with Jordan and Egypt. In fact also with Lebanon. The 1949 cease fire lines with the west bank are also internationally recognized. It is the Palestinians who do not have internationally recognized borders with Israel and in fact they want to destroy Israel.