Sunday's Naksa Day Postponed--Except In Syria...

There was supposed to be a Naksa day commemoration of the 1967 Six Day War--but the Naksa Day commemoration has been postponed:

Palestinians interviewed by NOW Lebanon, [were] intending to return to the border this Sunday for Naksa Day, a commemoration of the 1967 war in which Israel captured the West Bank, Gaza Strip, East Jerusalem and Golan Heights.

But on Friday, the event was cancelled because the [Lebanese] army had yet to grant protesters permission to approach the border, possibly as a result of the violence at last month’s rally there.

YnetNews is reporting the postponement a little differently--the instigation for the cancellation was not coming from Lebanon, nor from Israel:

Lebanon's al-Akhbar newspaper reported Friday that the committee organizing the "Naksa Day" march on Israel's border has decided to postpone it following pressure by Washington on Beirut.

One of the newspaper's sources said the similar marches planned in Syria, Jordan, Egypt, Gaza and the West Bank, may also be cancelled.

According to an official of Islamic Jihad in Lebanon, though the protest will not enter Israel, Palestinian Arabs will commemorate Naksa Day in Lebanon itself, with marches and parades in Palestinian refugee camps in Lebanon.

But though no protesters will enter Israel, apparently the Naksa Day protest will take place in one other country besides Lebanon:

Meanwhile, the Lebanese al-Safir newspaper quoted Palestinian sources claiming preparations for the marches in Syria are still on. The sources promised the Sunday march from Damascus will be a lot bigger than the one on "Nakba Day."

In a nice touch of irony it looks like Syria's attempt at distraction is going to backfire.

Meanwhile, is reported that Syrian authorities haven't yet announced their decision whether the demonstrations are legal.

No doubt the protesters are waiting with bated breath.

Technorati Tag: Naksa and Nakba and Lebanon.