Global March To Jerusalem: LIVE BLOGGING

Scroll Down this post for the latest updated news regarding the Global March To Jerusalem event


Latest update: 7:58 a.m. EST


Jerusalem Police said Friday afternoon that 14 people had been arrested in Land Day protests in the city as of 2 p.m.

Protesters were continuing to sporadically throw stones at security forces around the Damascus Gate, police said.


8:11 a.m. EST

Report: IDF fire wounds one at Gaza frontier
By REUTERS, JPOST.COM STAFF

Medics in the Gaza Strip said IDF soldiers used live fire Friday to prevent Land Day protesters from nearing the frontier wall, seriously wounding one man.

Thousands of Palestinians demonstrated on Friday to commemorate the 36th annual Land Day, a day in which Arab Israelis and Palestinians rally in opposition to what they say are Israeli policies of land appropriation.

The most hectic protests took place near Jerusalem, with thousands of demonstrators clashing with security forces in a protest Public Security Minister Yithak Aharonovitch called a "show."


8:21 a.m. EST


20,000 Jordanians Marching on Israel

Jordan's press is reporting some 20,000 people are taking part in a Global March on Jerusalem aimed at breaching Israel's borders.

Participants were reportedly shouting: "Where is the Arab League on Jerusalem?"

Four rabbis of the extremist anti-Zionist Neturei Karta sect are also taking part in the march.


9:05 a.m EST

15:08: Palestinian rioters hurled rocks and lightly injured a Border Policeman in Kalandia.



9:26 a.m. EST

Looks like things are pretty calm overall...keep your fingers crossed. Here's one tic on the streams:

Report: Swedish activist arrested for Land Day activities
By JPOST.COM STAFF
03/30/2012 16:17
A pro-Palestinian activist from Sweden was arrested by IDF forces during the course of the Land Day activities, the International Solidarity Movement (ISM) stated in a tweet.


NOTE: You will see in some of these reports the reference to "Land Day" - this is what prompted this day as the time for this Global March To Jerusalem...it's a bit of a long story but "Land Day" refers to a day back in 1976 when six Palestinians were killed in riots over Israel annexing some of their own land - it's basically just another day on the calendar that the Palestinians use to raise holy hell. So, a lot of the Israeli reports are using Land Day today in reference to what is going on - the "Global March To Jerusalem" was the effort this year to bring the whole world of Muslim scum into the fray of commemorating Land Day.


10:09 a.m.

Thousands of protesters gather in Jordan for Land Day
By JPOST.COM STAFF
03/30/2012 17:09
Thousands of protesters assembled in Jordan on the border with Israel to mark the 36th annual Land Day.

The demonstration was attended by members from the Muslim Brotherhood and anti-Zionist ultra-orthodox Jews.

Protesters waved Palestinian flags and called for the liberation of Jerusalem. The demonstration remained non-violent.


10:20 a.m. EST

Arabs Throw Rocks at IDF Soldiers Near Bethlehem

Dozens of Palestinian Authority Arab protesters threw rocks at IDF soldiers stationed at a checkpoint near the entrance to Bethlehem on Friday afternoon.

The soldiers responded with crowd dispersal means.


10:57 a.m. EST

The Global March is crumbling! Falling apart before it even gained steam is how it is now appearing. The one concern was what would happen along the Egyptian border and as you can see from this report.....IT FIZZLED.

Egyptian activists call off Land Day marches
By JPOST.COM STAFF
LAST UPDATED: 03/30/2012 17:52

Egyptian security forces prevented mass protests in Egypt to mark Land Day, while organizers in Cairo called off another demonstration due to the political situation in Egypt, Al Jazeera reported Friday according to pro-Palestinian activists.

Gamal Abdel Salaam, a leading organizer in the Al-Quds Committee in Egypt, told Al Jazeera that Egyptian security forces would not prevented a march from Cairo University in Giza to the grounds of the Great Pyramids, despite the organization receiving approval "from all sides."

Another activist and director of the Center for Palestine Studies in Cairo, Ibrahim Al-Darawi, told Al Jazeera that a massive demonstration from the Al Azhar Mosque was called off due to Egypt's "internal situation... and political tensions at the current time."

Abdel Salaam insisted that despite calling of his organization's march, his group would continue to work "for the sake of Jerusalem and address attempts by the Israeli occupation to Judaize [the city]."


11:38 a.m. EST

Latest video report out of Israel (sorry but it's from Russia Today)




11:57 a.m.

Report: IDF kills one Palestinian in Gaza Land Day demo
By JPOST.COM STAFF
03/30/2012 18:43

One Palestinian was shot dead and dozens were wounded near the border between the Gaza Strip in Israel on Friday during demonstrations to mark the 36th Land Day, Hamas affiliate Al-Resalah reported.

At least 37 people were injured in protests that broke our in Beit Hanoun and Khan Yunis, and Palestinians said the 20-year-old Muhammad Mahmoud Zaqout was shot dead by IDF troops stationed at the border, according to the report.


1:23 p.m.

good grief...i guess a day with palestinians trying to push through border gates wouldn't be complete without this....

Amnesty International condemns Israel for 'excessive force'
By JPOST.COM STAFF
03/30/2012 20:16

Amnesty International issued a condemnation of what it termed Israel's "excessive use of force" on Land Day protesters on Friday.

The organization's deputy director of Middle East and North Africa program said in a press statement that the they were "extremely worried" by reports that the IDF was using live ammunition on protesters, "particularly in the light of frequent and persistent use of excessive force against Palestinian protesters."

Amnesty also condemned the PA for preventing protests and Hamas for beating up protesters, calling on both to respect freedom of assembly.

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The Global March To Jeruslam Event: Muslim Hate and Violence On Israel Begins...

I'm going to try and live blog today what is going on in Israel as the Global March To Jerusalem begins and already the violence and disturbance has raised its ugly head but hey, what do you expect when this march of hate has been promoted all over the world.

Here's the first story I've seen of real violence and also detailing the "no kidding around" actions of the Israeli IDF forces. From The Jerusalem Post.

Clashes break out at Kalandiya in Land Day protests


Palestinians throw stones at IDF checkpoint near Bethlehem; IDF announces closure on the West Bank; police limit access to the Temple Mount; security forces prepare to prevent access to Lebanese border area

The IDF and Israel Police went on high alert Friday, imposing a full closure on the West Bank, limiting access to the Temple Mount and setting up checkpoints on roads near the Lebanese border ahead of expected protests marking Land Day and the Global March to Jerusalem.

Palestinian protesters were clashing with Israeli forces at the Kalandiya checkpoint, throwing rocks, firebombs and burning tires. Security forces were using large amounts of tear gas, stun grenades, sound weapons and foul-smelling water to disperse the protesters.

A large number of protesters arrived at the checkpoint from Ramallah. At least one was injured on his arm by a rubber bullet and taken to the hospital.

Preparations took place along all of Israel’s fronts. The IDF announced that Defense Minister Ehud Barak ordered West Bank crossings closed for a 24-hour period.

In Bethlehem, dozens of protesters were throwing stones at an IDF checkpoint after breaking through a line of Palestinian police.

Earlier, PA security forces had blocked the protesters from approaching the checkpoint. The protesters stopped in front of the Palestinian police and sat in the road, chanting: "To Jerusalem, we will march."

Israel Police deployed large numbers of police and border police forces in and around Moshav Avivim near the Lebanese border Friday morning, ahead of the expected demonstrations. Security forces set up checkpoints to prevent protesters from encroaching on the Lebanese border, where at least 10 people were killed in clashes that erupted during last years Nakba Day commemorations.

A chief superintendent in the police's Northern District said the preparations were designed with lessons learned from the deadly events last year. Police were prepared for crow control, armed with tear gas and riot gear.

Police said they were coordinating with the army, who was in turn coordinating with the United Nations in Lebanon.

In addition, police came armed with a general's order that gives them the authority to prevent people from reaching the border in the case that clashes break out. Police did not begin stopping movement in the border area but said they were prepared to do so.

On the northern side of the border, the Lebanese Armed Forces and police were also out in force along the border and at the Beaufort castle, where some 4,000 protesters are expected later in the day, Lebanese daily an-Nahar reported. UNIFIL was also said to be conducting patrols and monitoring activity along the northern side of the border.

IDF Chief of General Staff Benny Gantz toured the West Bank and Syrian border Friday morning ahead of the planned protests.