PM ahead of 'Naksa Day': We won't allow border breaches

Netanyahu tells international hi-tech conference that Israel has the right, duty to defend its borders, will act with restraint and determination; blames Iran, Hezbollah for Nakba Day border breaches.

By JPOST.COM STAFF, REUTERS
Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu 311 (R) (photo credit: Avi Ohayon / GPO)
Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu 311 (R)
(photo credit: Avi Ohayon / GPO)
Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu, speaking at an international high-tech conference in Jerusalem on Thursday, said that Israel would act with restraint and determination to prevent a crossing of its borders when Palestinians plan a mass protest along its frontiers next week.
"Like any country in the world, Israel has the right and duty to guard and defend its borders. Therefore my instructions are clear, to act with restraint, but with the necessary decisiveness to protect our borders, our communities and our citizens," Netanyahu said.
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Demonstrations on Israel's northern borders are expected to occur early next week on the 44th anniversary of the Six Day War, similar to protests that took place last month to commemorate "Nakba Day."
"On the 15th of May we celebrated the establishment of the State of Israel, and we witnessed attempts to subvert our sovereignty and breach our borders on behalf of Iran, Syria, Hezbollah and Hamas," the prime minister said, referring to the Nakba Day protests.
"Those actors," he added, are expected to call for similar events in the coming days.
Thirteen people were killed last month when Israeli and Lebanese troops tried to prevent thousands of Palestinian protesters who had surged towards its frontiers from crossing its borders with Syria, Lebanon and the Gaza Strip.
Ahead of the protests, the Lebanese Army declared the area near the border with Israel a closed military zone on Thursday, The Daily Star reported.
A source told the Lebanese daily that the move was meant to prevent keep protesters from the border in order to prevent them from facing IDF soldiers.