Egyptians, Jordanians hold anti-peace rallies
Cairo protestors burn Israeli flags, chant 'millions of martyrs marching to Jerusalem' ahead of upcoming Palestinian 'Nakba Day'; Jordanian demonstrators demand end to peace treaty with Israel, expulsion of envoy
The protestors at the square endorsed Palestinian unity and chanted anti-Israel slogans, including "millions of martyrs are marching to Jerusalem." Among other things, the demonstrators called for the expulsion of Israel's ambassador to Egypt and urged the government to sever diplomatic relations with the Jewish State.
Some protestors burned Israeli flags at the site while others held up Palestinian flags. The event constituted a pre-planned rally ahead of major protests scheduled for Sunday.
At one point during the day, Egyptian forces had to fire warning shots in the air to disperse thousands of people hurling stones outside Israel's embassy in Cairo.
On Thursday, Egyptian authorities urged citizens not to take part in a solidarity march with the Palestinians Sunday to the Rafah border. A statement issued by authorities called on activists to "avoid implications that may stem from such march."
Jordan's Facebook protest
Meanwhile, heeding a call from Palestinian Facebook organizers, several hundred Jordanians took to the streets of the capital demanding a sovereign Palestinian state and a refugee right of return.
About 500 protesters marched in Amman's downtown market district Friday also demanding an end to Jordan's 1994 peace treaty with Israel and the expulsion of the Israeli ambassador.
Pro-Palestinian demonstrations are not unusual in Jordan, but a gathering called for on Facebook is. Organizers are apparently inspired by the Arab uprisings in Egypt and other Arab countries that were heavily dependent on social network sites.
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