It would appear Ban Ki-Moon has only read the headlines — largely skewed to portray Israel firing on harmless “protesters” — and not any of the specifics of yesterday’s incidents. The would-be invaders were bused in from Damascus’ suburbs, and one report mentioned below alleges they were paid and promised a bigger payout to their families if they were killed. They charged the border with Molotov cocktails, and set off land mines when they ran into a minefield — on the Syrian side, according to this report. And when the IDF held fire to allow the wounded to be treated, the mob took advantage of the situation to try to gain more ground, trying to cut the barbed wire border fence.
Israel already showed “maximum restraint” against the other side, which showed none. The attackers get condolences, while Israel is scolded for defending itself. “UN head airs ‘deep concern’ over Naksa Day border clashes,” from the Jerusalem Post, June 6:
UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Monday expressed “deep concern” over Naksa Day clashes that took place between IDF soldiers and pro-Palestinian protesters attempting to infiltrate Israel’s borders on Sunday, AFP reported. He called on all parties involved in the Israeli-Arab conflict to exercise “maximum restraint.”
“The secretary-general regrets the loss of life, and extends his condolences to the families of the victims,” said a statement by Ban’s spokesman. Syria claimed 23 activists were killed, and 350 were wounded, in the clashes to commemorate the Palestinian “Naksa,” or “setback” of the 1967 Six-Day War on Sunday, although the numbers could not be verified. The IDF rejected the reports of 23 deaths as “exaggerated,” Army Radio reported on Monday.
Ban condemned “the use of violence and all actions intended to provoke violence,” in the statement. “The events of today and of 15 May on the Golan put the long-held cease-fire in jeopardy,” the statement warned, referencing last month’s Nakba Day protests, which reportedly left 14 infiltrators on the Lebanese and Syrian borders dead. “The secretary-general calls for maximum restraint on all sides and strict observance of international humanitarian law to ensure protection of civilians.”
Earlier on Monday, Israel Radio reported that Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman plans to file a complaint with the United Nations against Syria for its use of Palestinian demonstrators to challenge Israel’s sovereignty.
A government official stated that it was clear the Syrian government gave the green light for the protesters to move toward the border. […]
The Reform Syria opposition website said on Sunday that the “Naksa” protesters were poor farmers who were paid $1,000 by the Syrian regime to come to the border. The source also claimed that Syria has promised $10,000 to the families of anyone killed.
More on the protesters’ conduct: “IDF: Protesters caused their own deaths,” by Hanan Greenberg for YNet News, June 6:
The IDF said Monday morning that many of the Syrian protesters who stormed the border fence and Quneitra crossing in honor of ‘Naksa Day’ were responsible for their own deaths by igniting mine fields on the border.
Meanwhile the army also announced at around 11:30 am that although the border demonstration had ended by late Sunday night, many were gathering once again in an area nearby. No violence was reported.
The Associated Press reported that Syrian police are preventing pro-Palestinian marchers from approaching the border. The report says police have set up a pair of checkpoints near the border and security forces have been telling people not to cross and sending them away.
Responding to Sunday’s violence, IDF sources said the protesters who ignited minefields on ‘Naksa Day’ did not bring fire extinguishers with them and thus posed a danger to themselves and others by behaving irresponsibly. Others threw firebombs near Quneitra crossing to the same effect, they said.
The sources are also assuming that many protesters were hurt or killed as a result of the Red Cross’s inability to reach them, due to protesters’ refusal to cease violence in order to allow for medical evacuations.
IDF officials say commanders ordered three ceasefires, each of which were taken advantage of by the protesters in order to gain ground….