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| Syria-Lebanon-Iran |
| Lebanese "Naksa Day" march postponed |
| 2011-06-03 |
| Lebanon's al-Akhbar newspaper reported that the group organizing the "Naksa Day" march on Israel's border has decided to postpone it following pressure by Washington on Beirut. A source told the newspaper that similar marches planned in Syria, Jordan, Egypt, Gaza and the West Bank, may also be cancelled. The decision to delay "Naksa Day" events was made on Thursday night. An official with Islamic Jihad in Lebanon conveyed a similar message, announcing that "after the Palestinian forces learned about the current situation in Lebanon we're leaning towards cancelling the marches planned for Sunday along the borderline with Palestine." "The organizers are expected to make an official announcement in the next few hours, clarifying the reasons for the cancelation and deciding upon alternative steps they might take to ensure the marches and parades take place in all of the Palestinian refugee camps in Lebanon," he said. Al-Akhbar claimed that the main reason behind the delay was due to pressure from the US embassy via Assistant Secretary of State Jeffrey Feltman. The group organizing the "Naksa Day" march say they do not intend to create a crisis within the borders of Lebanon. They stressed that holding the march is a "sacred value" but that the timing is flexible. A Palestinian official in Lebanon said, "If we won't be able to head towards the border on Jun 5, then we'll try to do it on any other date." Another official was gleeful, saying: "It will leave the Israeli enemy in a state of suspense and anxiety." Meanwhile, Lebanon's al-Safir newspaper quoted Palestinian sources claiming preparations for the marches in Syria are still on. These sources said the Sunday march from Damascus will be much bigger than the one on "Nakba Day." The report also stated that Syrian authorities have yet to say whether the demonstrations events are legal. |
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| #1 The group organizing the "Naksa Day" march say they do not intend to create a crisis within the borders of Lebanon. Translation: Hesb'allah didn't want it to take place and threatened to shoot the Paleos themselves. |
| Posted by: Pappy 2011-06-03 08:38 |