Palestinians mark 'Nakba Day' in Gaza, West Bank
Palestinians mark 'catastrophe' with 65-second siren signifying number of years since Israel's establishment; clash with IDF forces. Eleven Israelis lightly wounded
In Palestinian towns, at exactly noon a memorial siren was sounded, its length 65 seconds, one second for every year Israel has existed.
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In the afternoon hours, Palestinian youths began clashing with IDF forces in a number of locations in the West Bank. They hurled stones at security forces who returned fire with riot dispersing equipment.
In Jerusalem's Nablus road, a Jew was attacked by an Arab. The assailant was arrested and the victim sustained light wounds. Six Arab youth assaulted Jews on their way to the Western Wall. Four soldiers and six police officers were lightly injured in clashes across the country.
Clashes broke out in Qalandiya in north Jerusalem, in the Al-Arub refugee camp near Bethlehem and in the Pawer refugee camp near Hebron, as well as Turmus Eia, east of Ramallah.
Damascus Gate in Jerusalem (Photo: Ohad Zwigenberg)
Photo: Ohad Zwigenberg
Palestinian assailants near the West Bank village of Hursa hurled a Molotov cocktail at an IDF jeep patrolling the area. The jeep was torched and four IDF soldiers were lightly injured. Two were were taken to hospital for treatment.
Nakba Day in Ramallah (Photo: Ohad Zwigenberg)
Photo: Ohad Zwigenberg
A few Palestinians attempted to reach the site where an outpost had been erected, near the village of Al-Azaryia in E-1 southeast of Jerusalem. According to them, the IDF and Border Guard forces prevented them from reaching the site, where they planned to plant trees and wave Palestinian flags.
Clashes broke out near Jerusalem's Old City, where eight Arab protesters were detained so far. Three officers were injured in rock-hurling incidents, all lightly.
Last year's Nakba Day riot in Qalandiya
In Ramallah, hundreds took part in the main procession, from the grave of Yasser Arafat towards the city's square bearing his name. There, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas gave a televised speech.
Abbas said that Palestinians will not agree to any arrangement that compromises their right to a free and sovereign state in the areas under Israeli control since 1967. Abbas further added that the Palestinians will continue to fight for a Palestinian state with Jerusalem as its capital and a just solution for Palestinian refugees.
In the Gaza Strip, "Nakba Day" was marked with a memorial siren in the morning hours.
Afterwards,processions were held in a number of districts in the strip.
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