Palestinians storm into Israel - 15 reported killed during unprecedented demonstration

 

A plainclothes Israeli police officer detains a Palestinian protester at the Qalandiya checkpoint between Ramallah and Jerusalem. “We hope calm and quiet will quickly return, but nobody should be mistaken. We are determined to defend our borders and sovereignty,” said Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

By Shaun Waterman

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The Washington Times:

Thousands of Palestinian demonstrators clashed with Israeli security forces on three hostile borders Sunday in an unprecedented wave of protests marking an annual ritual against the founding of the Jewish state in 1948.

Israeli soldiers opened fire, leaving at least 15 dead and many more injured, as rioting Palestinians poured across the borders with Syria, Lebanon and the Palestinian territories.

Israeli officials said 13 troops were wounded and blamed Syria and Iran for orchestrating the clashes.

The protests mark the first time that the demonstrations, which have swept the Arab world this year, have been directed at Israel.

The riots erupted as U.S. efforts to promote Israeli-Palestinian peace talks appeared close to collapse with the sudden resignation Friday of U.S. special Middle East envoy George Mitchell.

The resignation leaves already stalled U.S. peace efforts in tatters, a circumstance that President Obama is expected address this week in a major speech on the Middle East.

Read the rest of this story on: The Washington Times