Egypt Forces Clash With Pro-Palestinian Protesters

353 injured outside Israeli embassy in Cairo
By Mary Papenfuss,  Newser Staff
Posted May 16, 2011 1:20 AM CDT
15 Killed in Israel Border Clashes
Lebanese soldiers arrest a Palestinian protester during a rally marking "nakba," or "catastrophe," the term used by Palestinians to describe Israeli independence.   (AP Photo/Mohammed Zaatari)

Egyptian police fired live ammo and tear gas at pro-Palestinian protesters today as violence continued following yesterday's clashes at Israel's borders. More than 350 protesters were injured, one critically, outside the Israeli embassy in Cairo, AP reports. At least 16 people were killed yesterday when Israeli troops opened fire in skirmishes as thousands of protesters marched from Syria, Lebanon, Gaza and the Left Bank on the annual Palestinian day of "nakba," or catastrophe, marking Israeli's 1948 independence.

Israel has accused rival nations of supporting the clashes to distract demonstrators from ongoing Mid East unrest in surrounding countries, reports the New York Times. It was the first time Palestinians and their supporters attempted to breach Israel's border from all sides. One of the protesters declared yesterday: "This is war." Israeli president Benjamin Netanyahu said the protesters were seeking to destroy Israel, not create a Palestinian state alongside the nation. (More Syria stories.)

Get the news faster.
Tap to install our app.
X
Install the Newser News app
in two easy steps:
1. Tap in your navigation bar.
2. Tap to Add to Home Screen.

X