While in recent years Land Day has passed with relative quiet, marked by general strikes and marches in the Arab sector, this year’s March 30th observance of the day may be a violent one.

Land Day or Yom HaAdama is the annual commemoration of Israel’s expropriation of lands dating back to the creation of the State of Israel in 1948 by the Arab community. In the 1976 observance of the day, a number of Arab protestors were shot dead by security forces during the violence. This sparked violent Land Days, especially during the late 1980s and early 1990s, the period infamously known as the First Intifada. Over the years, things have been relatively quiet, with the day passing with large rallies recalling the events and the injustice of the land expropriations, which Israel stated were for security and settlement purposes as the state was beginning to get on its feet.

This year there are calls for a Global March, calling to storm Israel’s borders on Friday, March 30th. Israeli security officials have already released messages via the media that such actions would be met with zero tolerance and the response will be quick, efficient and appropriate. Warnings have been sent to Israeli Arab citizens, PA (Palestinian Authority) resident and residents of neighboring nations alike.

The IDF is not taking the announced event lightly and troops along the borders have already been placed on heightened alert status. Thousands of troops are being placed ‘on call’ in the event of an escalation of violence, and riot-control adjuncts will be distributed to enable soldiers to deal with any eventuality.

IDF commanders remember all too well last year’s Nakba Day events along the border to Syria and they are preparing for more of the same but an expanded version. Since that event the military’s engineering corps has taken measures to prevent a recurrence, including large trenches to make passage across the border significantly more complicated. Efforts are also underway to seek to coordinate with PA (Palestinian Authority) forces.

According to a weekend report appearing in the London-based English language al-Shark al-Awsat newspaper, Israel has sent warnings to a number of neighboring nations, including Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon and Syria, as well as the Hamas terrorist regime in Gaza.

Jordan reports it received no such official message, adding it cannot prevent people from expressing their feelings, but added the events must remain non-violent. Muslim Brotherhood officials in Jordan announced they are committed to the day’s events, but a non-violent observance and there is no plan to violate the border between the countries.

Reminiscent of the so-called “peace vessels” seeking to break Israel’s marine blockade on Gaza, activists from a number of countries have reportedly kicked off Land Day events by holding a weekend protest out the Israeli Embassy in Turkey demanding an end to the “Israeli occupation of Palestine”. It appears that additional activists are making their way to Syria during the week to take part in Friday’s event.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)