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| Syria and Middle East live: Land Day demos in West Bank | Syria and Middle East live: Land Day demos in West Bank |
| (40 minutes later) | |
| 10.04am: A video from the Alternative Information Centre (AIC) shows residents of Issawiya and A-Tur – two East Jerusalem neighborhoods – planting olive trees to mark Land Day. | |
The AIC says the action was organised in protest at the Jerusalem municipality's recent decision to zone Issawiya and A-Tur lands for an Israeli national park. Residents say this will take away the only land available to build new Palestinian homes. | |
| 9.48am: Historical note – Twitter user Maath Musleh has details of the first Land Day poster, in 1976: | |
| The very first #LandDay poster published in 1976 designed by the amazing Ismail Shamout twitter.com/MaathMusleh/st… | |
| — Maath Musleh (@MaathMusleh) March 30, 2012 | |
| 9.39am: For readers who would like to know more about Land Day, an article by Sam Bahour and Fida Jiryis in Haaretz newspaper explains the historical background. They write: | 9.39am: For readers who would like to know more about Land Day, an article by Sam Bahour and Fida Jiryis in Haaretz newspaper explains the historical background. They write: |
| The Land Day victims were not Palestinians from the occupied territories, but citizens of the state, a group that now numbers over 1.6m people, or 20.5% of the population. They are inferior citizens in a state that defines itself as Jewish and democratic, but in reality is neither. | The Land Day victims were not Palestinians from the occupied territories, but citizens of the state, a group that now numbers over 1.6m people, or 20.5% of the population. They are inferior citizens in a state that defines itself as Jewish and democratic, but in reality is neither. |
| On that dreadful day 36 years ago, in response to Israel's announcement of a plan to expropriate thousands of acres of Palestinian land for "security and settlement purposes," a general strike and marches were organized in Palestinian towns within Israel, from the Galilee to the Negev. | On that dreadful day 36 years ago, in response to Israel's announcement of a plan to expropriate thousands of acres of Palestinian land for "security and settlement purposes," a general strike and marches were organized in Palestinian towns within Israel, from the Galilee to the Negev. |
| The night before, in a last-ditch attempt to block the planned protests, the government imposed a curfew on the Palestinian villages of Sakhnin, Arraba, Deir Hanna, Tur'an, Tamra and Kabul, in the Western Galilee. The curfew failed; citizens took to the streets. Palestinian communities in the West Bank and Gaza, as well as those in the refugee communities across the Middle East, joined in solidarity demonstrations. | The night before, in a last-ditch attempt to block the planned protests, the government imposed a curfew on the Palestinian villages of Sakhnin, Arraba, Deir Hanna, Tur'an, Tamra and Kabul, in the Western Galilee. The curfew failed; citizens took to the streets. Palestinian communities in the West Bank and Gaza, as well as those in the refugee communities across the Middle East, joined in solidarity demonstrations. |
| In the ensuing confrontations with the Israeli army and police, six Palestinian citizens of Israel were killed, about 100 wounded, and hundreds arrested. | In the ensuing confrontations with the Israeli army and police, six Palestinian citizens of Israel were killed, about 100 wounded, and hundreds arrested. |
| Phoebe Greenwood, our correspondent on the spot, says today's demonstrations are expected to start after Friday prayers (around 12.30 local time, 10.30 UK time) and protesters will be heading for Israel's borders with Lebanon and Jordan, and checkpoints along the West Bank and Gaza. She continues: | Phoebe Greenwood, our correspondent on the spot, says today's demonstrations are expected to start after Friday prayers (around 12.30 local time, 10.30 UK time) and protesters will be heading for Israel's borders with Lebanon and Jordan, and checkpoints along the West Bank and Gaza. She continues: |
| Organisers stress that the event is intended as peaceful demonstration but the Israeli military, anticipating clashes, have already imposed a full closure of its borders with the West Bank, which will only be lifted for humanitarian emergencies. | Organisers stress that the event is intended as peaceful demonstration but the Israeli military, anticipating clashes, have already imposed a full closure of its borders with the West Bank, which will only be lifted for humanitarian emergencies. |
| Thousands of Israeli police have been deployed in and around Jerusalem, imposing tight restrictions on access to al-Aqsa mosque, as well as Arab-Israeli towns within Israel. Snipers have been positioned along the Israeli border with Gaza. | Thousands of Israeli police have been deployed in and around Jerusalem, imposing tight restrictions on access to al-Aqsa mosque, as well as Arab-Israeli towns within Israel. Snipers have been positioned along the Israeli border with Gaza. |
| In a statement, the Israeli military said it was "prepared for any eventuality and will do whatever is necessary to protect Israeli borders and residents". | In a statement, the Israeli military said it was "prepared for any eventuality and will do whatever is necessary to protect Israeli borders and residents". |
| 9.08am: (all times BST). Welcome to Middle East Live. The crisis in Syria continues unabated but today we shall also be keeping an eye on the Land Day demonstrations that commemorate the killing of six Arabs by Israeli forces in 1976 during protests against plans to confiscate land in the Galilee region. | 9.08am: (all times BST). Welcome to Middle East Live. The crisis in Syria continues unabated but today we shall also be keeping an eye on the Land Day demonstrations that commemorate the killing of six Arabs by Israeli forces in 1976 during protests against plans to confiscate land in the Galilee region. |
| Phoebe Greenwood will be reporting on events in the West Bank – hopefully. At the moment she's sorting out some paperwork for an "Entry Permit to a Closed Area closed by Proclamation". | Phoebe Greenwood will be reporting on events in the West Bank – hopefully. At the moment she's sorting out some paperwork for an "Entry Permit to a Closed Area closed by Proclamation". |
| Here's a roundup of the latest developments: | Here's a roundup of the latest developments: |
| Syria | Syria |
| • President Bashar al-Assad has made some positive-sounding comments on Kofi Annan's UN-backed peace plan for Syria but appears to have thrown the ball back to in Annan's court by saying he must "deal with the elements of the crisis in a comprehensive way" and get a commitment from armed groups to cease their "terrorist acts" against the government. | • President Bashar al-Assad has made some positive-sounding comments on Kofi Annan's UN-backed peace plan for Syria but appears to have thrown the ball back to in Annan's court by saying he must "deal with the elements of the crisis in a comprehensive way" and get a commitment from armed groups to cease their "terrorist acts" against the government. |
| • Britain is doubling its non-military aid to opponents of the Syrian regime. Foreign secretary William Hague announced last night that a further £500,000 will be available to support "civil society and oppositionists". | • Britain is doubling its non-military aid to opponents of the Syrian regime. Foreign secretary William Hague announced last night that a further £500,000 will be available to support "civil society and oppositionists". |
| Israel and the Palestinian territories | Israel and the Palestinian territories |
| • Israel has closed crossings into the occupied West Bank and reinforced patrols along its borders with Lebanon and Syria ahead of the expected pro-Palestinian demonstrations to mark Land Day. | • Israel has closed crossings into the occupied West Bank and reinforced patrols along its borders with Lebanon and Syria ahead of the expected pro-Palestinian demonstrations to mark Land Day. |
| Egypt | Egypt |
| • Ructions continue in Egypt over the composition of a 100-member assembly charged with drafting a new constitution. Various groups have pulled out and now al-Azhar, Cairo's ancient Islamic university, http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-17553610 claims it is not properly represented, according to the BBC. | • Ructions continue in Egypt over the composition of a 100-member assembly charged with drafting a new constitution. Various groups have pulled out and now al-Azhar, Cairo's ancient Islamic university, http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-17553610 claims it is not properly represented, according to the BBC. |
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