Israel Matzav

UN: Syrian forces stood aside as 'protesters' crossed Israeli border

A United Nations report has accused Syrian troops of standing by and allowing 'protesters' to cross their country's border with Israel during 'Naqba day' protests on May 15.

Syrian forces stood by as Palestinian demonstrators crossed the Golan Heights ceasefire line and were fired upon by Israeli forces, according to a UN report obtained by AFP on Tuesday.

At least 27 people were killed in the demonstrations on May 15 and June 5 and some diplomats said the accounts given in the report reinforced claims that Syria is stirring up border troubles to divert attention from President Bashar Al Assad’s deadly crackdown on opposition protests.

The report by UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon also said protests against Assad had spread to the border, and UN peacekeepers had been denied access to several districts.

The report on the UN Disengagement Force (UNDOF) monitoring the ceasefire between Syria and Israel did not accuse Syrians of organising the protests staged by Palestinians on symbolic days in the Arab-Israeli conflict.

But each time Syrian forces were nearby, it stressed.

At the time of the protests, Ban issued a statement saying the incidents had jeapordized the ceasefire in place since 1974 and stressed Syria’s ‘obligation to protect UNDOF personnel and facilities.’

A report in London's Daily Telegraph earlier this week claims that the Syrian government had actively orchestrated the protests.

I would bet that both are true.

Labels: Golan Heights, Naqba day, Syria

posted by Carl in Jerusalem @ 6:49 PM