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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) | |
| 11.36am: The Turkish prime minister, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, has expressed his scepticism over the Syrian president's supposed acceptance of Kofi Annan's peace plan. Turkish website Today's Zaman reports: | |
| Erdoğan said there is no need "now for me to say I am hoping or expecting something [from the Syrian authorities]. Because he continues to kill. As we now see such a picture, I don't have any hope [that Syria will comply with the Annan plan]." | |
| 11.21am: From Phoebe again: | |
| Her face swathed in a keffiyeh, a Palestinian woman broke from the protest and walked with a Palestinian flag directly up to line of Israeli soldiers. She placed the flag in the ground in front of them, turned and walked calmly back. | |
| She succeeded in provoking a reaction. She was pursued back to the Palestinian protesters by Israeli soldiers firing tear gas and vehicles spraying foul-smelling skunk water. | |
| 11.13am: From Phoebe Greenwood: | |
| A procession of hundreds of Palestinians bearing orange flags, drumming and whistling, is pouring down the Jerusalem road from Ramallah towards Qalandiya. They have been met by armoured Israeli vehicles blasting high-pitch sirens. | |
| Jawaal, the Palestinian mobile network provider, has pitched a tent a few hundred metres up the road from Qalandiya giving away branded baseball caps and water to protesters. | |
| Note: The orange flags are from Mustafa Barghouti's Mubadara party, the Palestinian National Initiative. | |
| 11.03am: A bit more from Phoebe Greenwood at the Qalandiya checkpoint: | |
| Israeli soldiers have taken position in front of a pile of burning tyres, firing stun grenades at a few dozen Palestinian youths. No sign yet of the thousands expected to stage a peaceful protest here today. | |
| Phoebe adds that the Friday prayers have been delayed by an hour so – which may explain the lack of demonstrators at this stage. | |
| 10.53am: Al-Jazeera reports some tyre-burning at Qalandiya ... and here is a picture posted on Twitter: | 10.53am: Al-Jazeera reports some tyre-burning at Qalandiya ... and here is a picture posted on Twitter: |
| Tyre's being sent on fire at Qalandiya checkpoint #LandDay twitter.com/ewither/status… | Tyre's being sent on fire at Qalandiya checkpoint #LandDay twitter.com/ewither/status… |
| — Emily Wither (@ewither) March 30, 2012 | — Emily Wither (@ewither) March 30, 2012 |
| The Tweeter, Emily Wither of Fox News Radio, also says "Right now there's a lot more journalists than protesters." | |
| 10.44am: Back to Syria and Kofi Annan's peace plan. | 10.44am: Back to Syria and Kofi Annan's peace plan. |
| The Syrian government must implement the ceasefire required under the UN and Arab League's envoy's six-point peace plan first, his spokesman has said. Ahmad Fawzi told a news briefing in Geneva: | The Syrian government must implement the ceasefire required under the UN and Arab League's envoy's six-point peace plan first, his spokesman has said. Ahmad Fawzi told a news briefing in Geneva: |
| We expect him (the Syrian president) to implement this plan immediately. | We expect him (the Syrian president) to implement this plan immediately. |
| Bashar al-Assad has said the rebels must stop attacks first if the UN peace plan is to work. | Bashar al-Assad has said the rebels must stop attacks first if the UN peace plan is to work. |
| Activist groups say the violence is continuing. The Local Co-ordination Committees say 60 people were killed on Thursday. The LCC also reports renewed shelling in Homs today. It has posted a video it says is of shelling of Hamideh, in Homs. | Activist groups say the violence is continuing. The Local Co-ordination Committees say 60 people were killed on Thursday. The LCC also reports renewed shelling in Homs today. It has posted a video it says is of shelling of Hamideh, in Homs. |
| Shelling and clashes between the Free Syrian Army and government forces have also been reported in Idlb today. The LCC's reports cannot be independently verifed. | Shelling and clashes between the Free Syrian Army and government forces have also been reported in Idlb today. The LCC's reports cannot be independently verifed. |
| Annan's spokesman also said that the former UN chief is to visit Tehran for talks aimed at ending the bloodshed in Syria. He did not specify the date. | Annan's spokesman also said that the former UN chief is to visit Tehran for talks aimed at ending the bloodshed in Syria. He did not specify the date. |
| Iran is Syria's key ally in the Middle East and has been accused by US and European security officials - as well as the Syrian opposition - of helping to suppress anti-government protests. | Iran is Syria's key ally in the Middle East and has been accused by US and European security officials - as well as the Syrian opposition - of helping to suppress anti-government protests. |
| Annan visited Russia and China, also allies of Syria, this week. | Annan visited Russia and China, also allies of Syria, this week. |
| Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong Lei today echoed Assad's comments calling for the opposition to end their attacks. He said: | Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong Lei today echoed Assad's comments calling for the opposition to end their attacks. He said: |
| We'd like to call on Syria's opposition to make responses as soon as possible to create conditions for opening dialogue and stopping violence. | We'd like to call on Syria's opposition to make responses as soon as possible to create conditions for opening dialogue and stopping violence. |
| Meanwhile, Belgium has become the latest country to close its embassy in Damascus. Its foreign ministry said that over the last year the democratic aspirations of the Syrian people "have only been met with growing repression and deadly violence". | Meanwhile, Belgium has become the latest country to close its embassy in Damascus. Its foreign ministry said that over the last year the democratic aspirations of the Syrian people "have only been met with growing repression and deadly violence". |
| 10.35am: From Phoebe Greenwood at the Qalandiya checkpoint: | 10.35am: From Phoebe Greenwood at the Qalandiya checkpoint: |
| Palestinian boys have started arriving at the blockades. Jabai, 19, has come from Nablus to join the protest. "Today is different than any other Friday demonstration," he says. "Many more people are coming". | Palestinian boys have started arriving at the blockades. Jabai, 19, has come from Nablus to join the protest. "Today is different than any other Friday demonstration," he says. "Many more people are coming". |
| And what of organisers' hopes that the demonstrations will be peaceful? "No, we want to throw stones and break things", says Jabai, highlighting the difference between Palestinian activists and the frustrated youth who come to demonstrate anger. The first rocks are already being thrown at the Israeli watch tower. | And what of organisers' hopes that the demonstrations will be peaceful? "No, we want to throw stones and break things", says Jabai, highlighting the difference between Palestinian activists and the frustrated youth who come to demonstrate anger. The first rocks are already being thrown at the Israeli watch tower. |
| 10.25am: We mentioned earlier that our correspondent, Phoebe Greenwood, was sorting out some paperwork in order to report from the West Bank, which Israel has declared to be a closed area. | 10.25am: We mentioned earlier that our correspondent, Phoebe Greenwood, was sorting out some paperwork in order to report from the West Bank, which Israel has declared to be a closed area. |
| Readers may be curious to know what this was about, so here are some extracts from the letter that the Guardian had to sign: | Readers may be curious to know what this was about, so here are some extracts from the letter that the Guardian had to sign: |
| The Media Company has been warned and is aware that various combat activities are taking place [in the] Closed Area and of the risks to the security and safety of those present in the Closed Area in general, and of Israelis in particular and that as a result present or working in the Closed Area, for or on behalf of the Media Company, may sustain harm to their person or property. Notwithstanding, the Media Company still wishes for Israeli media personnel working for it or on its behalf to enter the Closed Area ... | The Media Company has been warned and is aware that various combat activities are taking place [in the] Closed Area and of the risks to the security and safety of those present in the Closed Area in general, and of Israelis in particular and that as a result present or working in the Closed Area, for or on behalf of the Media Company, may sustain harm to their person or property. Notwithstanding, the Media Company still wishes for Israeli media personnel working for it or on its behalf to enter the Closed Area ... |
| The Media Company is aware that each person entering the Closed Area undertakes to act with the utmost caution, to comply with all the conditions proscribed by the IDF authorities and to act in accordance with their instructions concerning their entry into, stay in, and exit from, the Closed Area and to act, inter alia, as follows: | The Media Company is aware that each person entering the Closed Area undertakes to act with the utmost caution, to comply with all the conditions proscribed by the IDF authorities and to act in accordance with their instructions concerning their entry into, stay in, and exit from, the Closed Area and to act, inter alia, as follows: |
| (i) Coordinate with the local representative of the IDF Spokesperson prior to each entry into the Closed Area. (ii) Provide the local representative of the IDF Spokesperson with all information that will enable continuous contact with him/her during their stay in the Closed Area (including the number of the cellular phone in my possession and the like). (iii) Evacuate the Closed Area, without delay, immediately when informed to do so by the authorized IDF authorities. | (i) Coordinate with the local representative of the IDF Spokesperson prior to each entry into the Closed Area. (ii) Provide the local representative of the IDF Spokesperson with all information that will enable continuous contact with him/her during their stay in the Closed Area (including the number of the cellular phone in my possession and the like). (iii) Evacuate the Closed Area, without delay, immediately when informed to do so by the authorized IDF authorities. |
| ... In knowledge of all the abovementioned dangers, and after evaluating all the risks which may occur to whoever operates and/or is present in the Closed Area for or on behalf of the Media Company, the Media Company freely and willingly accepts such risks for those operating or being present in the Closed Area for it or on its behalf, and hereby waives the liability of the State of Israel / Israeli Ministry of Defense and/or their employees and/or its soldiers and/or its agents and/or anyone who operate for or on their behalf (hereinafter: "The State of Israel/Ministry of Defense) with respect to any suit and/or claim and/or demand of any kind regarding all death or injury to person and/or damage or loss to property, of any kind or degree sustained as a result of the entry or stay in the Closed Area of anyone acting for or on its behalf. In addition to all liability under law, the Media Company hereby undertakes to indemnify the State of Israel / Israeli Ministry of Defense for any sum they may be obliged to pay in any legal procedure, arbitration procedure or settlement, including linkage and/or interest and/or legal expenses with respect to death, injury to person, damage to property or loss ... and which was caused as a result of the entry, activities and/or presence of Israelis in the Closed Area acting for or on behalf of the Media Company, as abovementioned. | ... In knowledge of all the abovementioned dangers, and after evaluating all the risks which may occur to whoever operates and/or is present in the Closed Area for or on behalf of the Media Company, the Media Company freely and willingly accepts such risks for those operating or being present in the Closed Area for it or on its behalf, and hereby waives the liability of the State of Israel / Israeli Ministry of Defense and/or their employees and/or its soldiers and/or its agents and/or anyone who operate for or on their behalf (hereinafter: "The State of Israel/Ministry of Defense) with respect to any suit and/or claim and/or demand of any kind regarding all death or injury to person and/or damage or loss to property, of any kind or degree sustained as a result of the entry or stay in the Closed Area of anyone acting for or on its behalf. In addition to all liability under law, the Media Company hereby undertakes to indemnify the State of Israel / Israeli Ministry of Defense for any sum they may be obliged to pay in any legal procedure, arbitration procedure or settlement, including linkage and/or interest and/or legal expenses with respect to death, injury to person, damage to property or loss ... and which was caused as a result of the entry, activities and/or presence of Israelis in the Closed Area acting for or on behalf of the Media Company, as abovementioned. |
| 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. | 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. | 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: | 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… | The very first #LandDay poster published in 1976 designed by the amazing Ismail Shamout twitter.com/MaathMusleh/st… |
| — Maath Musleh (@MaathMusleh) March 30, 2012 | — 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, 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, claims it is not properly represented, according to the BBC. |
| . | . |