Al Naksa Day: A Reminder - Updated*

You're going to be reading here and here about how Israel killed 4 and wounded 12 Palestinians and their Syrian 'supporters' trying to breach the border in the Golan Heights in order to 'commemorate' Al Naksa Day, i.e. the 'setback' of the Arab loss of the 1967 War. You may find it ironic that while Bashar Al-Assad was busy killing -- so far over 1,000 -- of his people protesting his brutal regime, he still found time to help foment a little action on the border. Surely, he hoped to avert international scrutiny of what happened in Hama a couple of days ago -- at least 65 protesters were killed -- and in 1982, when his father massacred between 10,000 and 40,000 people. Also ironically, he allowed Al Naksa Day to be reported on official state television, unlike the media blackout he imposed on the rest of his burning country.

So, here is my reminder of the hopes that the 'setback' set back, in the form of cartoons published in Arab newspapers during the 1967 Six Day War:

Cannons of eight Arab states: Sudan, Algeria, United Arab 

Republic (then Egypt),Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Iraq, Syria and Lebanon. 

Lebanese daily Al-Jarida, May 31, 1967

Tank forces of the UAR, Syria, Jordan and Lebanon.

Lebanese daily Al-Khayat,May 31, 1967

“The barricades in Tel Aviv.” Syrian army publication, Al-Jundi Al-Arabi,

 June 6, 1967 (Day 2 of the Six-Day War)

“How to use the Star of David.” Iraqi dailyAl-Manar, June 8, 1967

I found these cartoons, although there are probably many other sources available, in a wonderful blog I just discovered by renowned anthropologist, Dr. Melvin Konner, whose book, The Jewish Body, I plan to note in an upcoming post.


* HonestReporting has published the following from The Reform Party of Syria:

"The Reform Party of Syria has learned today, from intelligence sources close to the Assad regime in Lebanon, that Syrians storming through the Golan Height next to the Quneitra crossing are Syrian farmers who have migrated in recent years from the drought-stricken northeast Syria to the south. Estimates put the number at 250,000 impoverished migrants.

"Information received cite the regime has paid hundreds of these farmers $1,000 each to show-up and $10,000 to their families should any of them succumb to Israeli fire. In Syria, an average salary is about $200 a month and to these impoverished farmers, such a one-time sum can keep them economically afloat for six months." Palestinians and their staunch supporters. Right. Read the rest here.