Palestinians to march on Israel's borders

BEIRUT, Lebanon, June 1 (UPI) -- Palestinians plan to stage protests along Israel's borders to mark the 44th anniversary of the Six Days War and Israel's occupation, a Fatah official said.

Munir Maqdah, a Fatah official in Lebanon, said plans are under way to stage a peaceful march between Naqoura to the town of Khiam on Sunday, The Daily Star reported Wednesday.

Facebook campaigns call on Palestinians to march to Israel's borders with Lebanon, Syria and Gaza to commemorate the Naksa, the 1967 war, the Lebanese daily said.

In the aftermath of the Six Days War, Israel occupied the Golan Heights, the West Bank and Gaza Strip, East Jerusalem and the Sinai Peninsula.

"Our people are ready. The road to Palestine is covered with thorns," Maqdah told the newspaper.

A Lebanese army source told the newspaper the army may prevent protesters from reaching Israel's borders to prevent what occurred last month on Nakba Day when 11 protesters were killed. "The army has reservations about allowing protesters to reach the border … . We will not allow a repeat of what happened on Nakba Day, in terms of the killings of Palestinians," the source said.

In last month's protests of the 1948 creation of the state of Israel, a total of 14 Palestinians were killed.

Neeraj Singh, the spokesman for the United Nations Interim Forces in Lebanon, told the newspaper he had yet to receive official confirmation concerning marches in the area. He said it was the responsibility of the Lebanese army to protect the protesters.

Abdullah Abdullah, the Palestinian Authority's ambassador in Lebanon, said the marches planned are to express rejection of Israel's occupation and should not be violent.