"Shahid!"

Syria brutalizes its population and the world looks on, for what is there to be done about it? It's a sovereign country after all, and even though the United Nations is aghast as it usually is when brutality is clearly evidenced as it is with Bashar al-Assad's troops opening fire at funeral processions, during quiet and hopeful protests against his administration, dictators aren't conscience-stricken with guilt that the UN looks at it with disfavour.

But it is a useful device, to distract the world's attention. And it is convenient that it can be so readily accomplished. First it was on the occasion of sympathizing with the Palestinians in giving voice to their grievance over "Nakba" day; the creation of Israel in 1948. And then it was spotlight on Syria's loss on the anniversary of the Israeli victory over the Syrians in taking the Golan Heights in the 1967 Six-Day War, so it's "Naksa" day being protested this time around.

Photo by: REUTERS/Ronen Zvulun
Forgotten of course that Israel offered to return the Golan Heights to Syria way back then in exchange for a peace agreement. Which Syria disdained to accept from its Jewish adversary. So, as has always happened when countries go to war with one another; one the aggressor, the other the defender, when the aggressor is defeated and the defender victorious, to the victor goes the geography.

And so poor Syrian farmers from the Damascus area are bused to the border between Syria and Israel, promised a hundred dollars and that the government will support their families if they do the regime's bidding and confront Israeli border troops. Throwing rocks and molotov cocktails, warned by the IDF through loudspeakers in Arabic to venture no further, they advance regardless.

Enabling the Syrian media to trumpet the slaughter of Syrian demonstrators by the vicious action of the IDF. Israel, shooting below the belt, as it were, so as to ensure only casualties, not death, when rubber bullets and tear gas failed to dissuade the demonstrators. Mortality caused more likely by the explosion of four land mines after rioters threw gasoline bombs which exploded in a field, initiating a fire that set off the land mines.

Those evacuating their wounded shouted "shahid"! Syrian paramedics requested a ceasefire and the IDF agreed, then noticed that other demonstrators were taken advantage of it by attempting to cut through the barbed wire. End of truce.