New tactics to pile pressure on Israel

A Palestinian stone-thrower runs for cover from tear gas fired by Israeli soldiers Palestinian activists are calling it a preview of new tactics to pressure Israel and win world support for statehood: Masses of marchers, galvanised by the Arab Spring and brought together by Facebook, descending on borders and military posts — and daring Israeli soldiers to shoot.
It could prove more problematic for Israel than the suicide bombings and other deadly violence of the past — which the current Palestinian National Authority leadership feels only tainted their cause.
After attempted border breaches from Syria, Lebanon, Jordan and Gaza left 15 Palestinians dead last week, Israeli officials openly puzzled over how to handle an unfamiliar new phase.
"The Palestinians' transition from terrorism and suicide bombings [resistance] to deliberately unarmed mass demonstrations is a transition that will present us with difficult challenges," said Defence Minister Ehud Barak.
Last week's protests were driven by renewed hopes that Palestinian statehood — at least as an internationally approved idea within specific borders — is approaching after years of paralysis.
The optimism is fed by reconciliation efforts between Hamas and the Western-backed Fatah movement after a four-year split, as well as growing international support for Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas' plan to seek UN recognition of a state in the West Bank, Gaza and occupied East Jerusalem in September over Israel's objections.
Pro-democracy revolts
Although some say UN recognition will change little on the ground, the pro-democracy revolts in the Arab world have instilled a new sense of possibility among Palestinians, who had been dejected after two failed uprisings against Israeli rule and fruitless peace talks over the past 20 years.
Meanwhile, the Facebook generation is increasingly taking a lead in the Palestinian arena, at times sidelining political veterans stuck to more traditional ways.
"There is a new energy, a new dynamism," said Hanan Ashrawi, a former Palestinian negotiator.
"The Palestinians feel they have put themselves on the map again."
Sunday's marches occurred on the day Palestinians mourn Israel's 1948 creation, when hundreds of thousands of their people were uprooted and scattered throughout the region.
Marking the anniversary, called the "nakba," Arabic for "catastrophe," Palestinian organisers bused hundreds to Lebanon's border with Israel and to the Syrian frontier in the Israeli-held Golan Heights.
Surprised and overwhelmed, Israeli troops fired to keep the crowds from breaching the borders. Four Palestinians were killed in the Golan and 10 in Lebanon, while a 15th was fatally shot as dozens rushed Israel's border wall with the Gaza Strip.
Heavy risks
It's unclear whether future calls for more mass marches will produce a similar turnout since last week's casualties underscored the heavy risks.
However, Palestinian activists in recent months have spoken of employing such tactics throughout the West Bank, the core of a hoped-for future Palestinian state.
Some in Israel suspected that allies of arch-foe Iran, including Lebanon's Hezbollah, had a hand in the border breaches or that Syria helped instigate them to divert attention from its brutal crackdown on domestic unrest.
In Lebanon's border area, Hezbollah activists with walkie-talkies directed buses and handed out Palestinian flags.
However, the Palestinians say it was purely their initiative, launched on Facebook several months ago, with heavy involvement by expatriates.
"No one expected it to work, and it did work," said Hazeem Abu Hilal, a Palestinian organiser.
Palestinian officials quickly embraced the campaign as a boost for their three-pronged strategy — seeking UN recognition, building a state from the ground up and fostering non-violent protests.
Abbas declared a three-day mourning period for yesterday's dead, and flags were lowered to half-mast.