The IDF continues to pursue Syrian infiltrators into the Golan Heights, following yesterday's violent burst through the fence. One Syrian was arrested this morning, and the IDF is looking for others. The IDF has been praised for acting with restraint, as well as criticized for not being prepared.
The IDF arrested last night the organizers of Sunday’s mass demonstrations in the Druze town of Majdal Shams in the Golan Heights. The protests, held on both sides of the Israel-Syria border, were in honor of Naqba Day - the "catastrophe" that the Arabs consider Israel's declaration of independence.
They began with rocks thrown at a small IDF force from both sides, led to the breaking down of a fence and the infiltration of over 100 Syrians, and subsequent IDF shooting that killed four Syrians.
The organizer suspects are being questioned regarding whether they received Syrian or Iranian support.
The mob of infiltrators returned to Syria Sunday evening, though some individuals remained. One was found this morning in the area, being driven by an Arab taxi driver from eastern Jerusalem; both were arrested.
The IDF, explaining why its forces were thin at the site of the confrontation, says it expected the main thrust of the Syrian protests to be held further south, at Kuneitra. It was also lacking heavy crowd-dispersal equipment, having to use tear gas instead of water cannons. As one Majdal Shams resident said, “The young Syrians succeeded in doing what no Arab army has done – break through Israel’s border.” These matters will be further investigated in the coming days.
On the other hand, the IDF has been widely acclaimed, even by residents of Majdal Shams, for having behaved with great restraint and shooting only when absolutely necessary. Defense sources said there could easily have been 100-200 casualties, instead of four.
Brigade Commander Col. Shukrun, who commanded the event, ordered his soldiers to hold fire until necessary, and even then, to shoot only at the feet of adult men. Among the infiltrators were children between 10 and 12 years old, as well as women. Between 40 and 60 Syrian men were injured.
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White House urges "maximum restraint on all sides"; says Damascus trying to distract attention from its own violent crackdown on protests.
ABOARD AIR FORCE ONE - The White House accused Syria on Monday of incitingdeadly border clashes between IDF troops and Palestinian demonstrators, sayingDamascus 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 the Jewish state "has the right to prevent unauthorized crossing at its borders."
"We urge maximum restraint on all sides," Carney told reporters on Air Force One asPresident Barack Obama flew to Tennessee.
Around 100 Syrian protesters infiltrated the northern border on Sunday and clashed with IDF troops, at one of many flashpoints along the various borders and in the West Bank amid demonstrations marking the Palestinian “Nakba Day.”
At least one Syrian was killed by IDF gunfire. In similar strife along the Lebanese border, conflicting reports spoke of between three and 10 people killed, while the IDF said that most and possibly all of the casualties were caused by the Lebanese Armed Forces.
The White House put the onus on the government of Syrian President Bashar 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.
