3rd LD: Israeli troops clash with pro-Palestinian protesters at border fence with Syria

3rd LD: Israeli troops clash with pro-Palestinian protesters atborder fence with Syria

MAJDAL SHAMS, Golan Heights, June 5 (Xinhua) -- The Israeli armyused riot dispersal gear and opened fires, as several hundredprotesters approached and tried to cross the fences along the cease-fire line between Israel and Syria in Golan Heights, shortly beforenoon on Sunday.

The Israeli army fired at the pro-Palestinian protesters markingthe six-day 1967 Arab-Israeli war, killing two people and woundingfive others, the state-run Syrian TV reported.

Israeli media said that the army used exact and limited live fireat the legs of the protesters.

The Israeli army spokesman's office told Xinhua that soldiersshot into the air as dozens of protesters kept approaching thefences, despite warnings to stay away. And the Israel Radio playedan audio segment of Israeli troops with bullhorns warning rioters inArabic that they would be shot if they approached the barbed- wirefencing.

Xinhua reporters saw 200 to 300 protesters gathering at the "Shouting Hill" near Majdal Shams, among whom some 40 to 50 wereapproaching the security fences, waving a Syrian flag and shoutingslogans.

Ambulances on the Syrian side are arriving at the area toevacuate what appears to be wounded protesters, and witness said atleast seven people had been seen evacuated.

Israel Channel 2 television reported at noon that several dozenother protesters were seen approaching the border fences several kmfurther south at the Kuneitra crossing point where the UN have aforce stationed.

There are no reports at the moment of clashes along the Lebanon-Israel border.

The Israeli army and security forces are on high alert Sunday forpossible attempts to cross the borders with Lebanon, Syria, Jordan,and the Gaza Strip at Palestinian 'Naksa Day,' which commemoratesthe outcome of the 1967 war when Israel took control of the GolanHeights, the West Bank, eastern Jerusalem, and the Gaza Strip.

The army declared the entire Golan Heights as a closed militaryarea, and the Lebanese Army took similar measures along the commonborder with Israel, in order to prevent potential marches across theborder with Israel. Some Palestinian groups, however, reportedlycanceled planned marches and will hold rallies in refugee camps inLebanon and Syria instead.

More than 10 protesters were killed along the Lebanese and Syrianborders with Israel, as Israeli and Lebanese armies opened fires, ina similar attempt to rush the border two weeks ago on thePalestinian 'Nakba Day' on May 15.

Israel Police are on high alert across the country as well, inhopes of heading off any possible disturbances in the territoriesand along all of the borders.

An pro-Palestinian internet campaign is calling for protests inJerusalem and the West Bank, as well as on Israel's borders withGaza, Jordan, Lebanon, and Syria, and outside its embassies in Cairoand Amman.