The Israel Defense Forces has raised its alert level ahead of anticipated protests at Israel’s borders and West Bank checkpoints during Land Day, being marked today in commemoration of a government plan to expropriate Arab lands.

The IDF has deployed troops ahead of a solidarity event calling for protest marches up to the Israeli border, called Global March to Jerusalem, and pro-Palestinian protests, expected mainly at the Qalandiyah checkpoint north of Jerusalem and the Rachel checkpoint in the south.

Sources in the IDF Northern Command said no demonstrations were expected on the Syrian border because of the domestic situation in that country, but that protests were expected on the Lebanese border.

The Southern Command expected protests mainly at the Erez and Karni checkpoints.

Forces have been briefed on rules of engagement and have been ordered to act with restraint but to protect the border and not to allow protesters to cross it as they did last year.

For more, go to Haaretz.com

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