Israeli troops clashed with Arab protesters Sunday along three hostile borders leaving at least 16 people dead and dozens wounded in an unprecedented wave of demonstrations marking the Palestinian day of nakba, or catastrophe, which mourns the defeat at Israels hands in 1948. The Israeli military said thousands of protesters approached Syrias border with the Israeli-controlled Golan Heights and hundreds burst through the fence. Soldiers opened fire to stop them,the military said. Dozens were wounded and four were reported killed. The Syrian regime is intentionally attempting to divert international attention away from the brutal crackdown of their own citizens to incite against Israel, said Lt Col Avital Leibovich,an Israeli military spokeswoman. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said We are determined to defend our borders and sovereignty, he added. In the deadliest incident,10 people were killed when they marched from inside Lebanon toward the border with Israel,Lebanese security officials said. Clashes also broke out at the Gaza Strip.
