Marking the anniversary of the 1967 seizure of the West Bank and Gaza, some 15,000 Israeli leftists and peace activists marched in Tel Aviv June 5 to mark "43 years of occupation," while also protesting the recent IDF raids on Gaza-bound aid ships. A heavy police presence did not prevent right-wing counter-protesters from attacking the march. A smoke grenade was hurled at the protestors outside the Tel Aviv Museum, and counter-protesters tried to attack leftist activist Uri Avnery, snatching a banner he was carrying.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced June 5 the seizure without resistance of the Gaza-bound aid ship Rachel Corrie. The Israeli military says soldiers boarded the Rachel Corrie from the sea rather than from helicopter, in contrast to the deadly raid on an aid convoy five days ago. The ship has been taken to the Israeli port of Ashdod. Israel says it will question those on board at the port and transfer the aid to the Gaza Strip by land after checking the cargo for banned items.

On June 2, a heavily armed commando of the Colombian National Army leapt over the security fence at BP's Tauramena Central Processing Facility in Casanare department to attack group of striking workers who have been occupying the complex. Oscar Garcia, of the National Oil Workers Union said, "This shows how BP is bent on war against workers who are only demanding that their fundamental rights be respected."

Afghanistan's President Hamid Karzai has convened a jirga, or assembly of tribal leaders, to discuss a plan to reach out to the Taliban and broker peace June 2. Assailants with suicide vests, rockets and machine guns disrupted the opening ceremonies at the cavernous meeting tent on Kabul's Polytechnic University campus, sparking a 45-minute gun battle. The attachers apparently used women's burqas to sneak into the area. Two men were killed and a third was arrested. The Taliban claimed responsibility for the attack. (AP, McClatchy Newspapers, NPR, June 2)

From Boycott!—"Supporting the Palestinian BDS [boycott, divestment, sanctions] call from within"—June 4:

Israelis call on the world's governments and civil society organizations:
Gaza and MV Rachel Corrie Need Your Backing Now!
We are Israeli citizens and residents, Palestinians and Jews. We work in our society to raise the voices of conscience and dissent in light of the hostility, self-righteousness and racism which dominate it, but these efforts are not sufficient. In the wake of our government's deadly attack on the Free Gaza aid ships, including the MV Marmara, and due to the continued cruel and illegitimate Israeli siege on the Gaza strip—we call on the world's governments and civil society organizations to take concrete and immediate steps in pressuring Israel to refrain from interfering with the ship MV Rachel Corrie, currently on route to Gaza, or any future vessel, sailing from international waters to the waters of the besieged Gaza strip.

Laredo police, acting on a tip, made their largest weapons seizure in 10 years after pulling over a truck laden with 147 brand new assault rifles, 200 high-capacity magazines, 53 bayonets and 10,000 rounds of ammunition that they believe was headed to Mexico on May 29. One of the two men in the vehicle tried to flee, but was apprehended. "Two Joe Blows aren't going to buy a bunch of weapons and it stops there," said Laredo Police Investigator Joe Baeza. "We're pretty positive it was headed to Mexico." ICE and the ATF are investigating. (AP, Laredo Sun, June 2)

Nicaragua cut off diplomatic ties with Israel on June 1 in protest of Israel's deadly raid on the Gaza-bound aid flotilla. "Nicaragua suspends from today its diplomatic relations with the government of Israel," said first lady Rosario Murillo who also serves as communications chief for President Daniel Ortega. She added that Managua "underscored the illegal nature of the attack on a humanitarian mission in clear violation of international and humanitarian law."

At least five protesters, including two women, were injured May 15 as thousands of Tibetan villagers in Markham County, Chamdo Prefecture, Tibet Autonomous Region (TAR), marched in protest of planned mining operations on a mountain they consider sacred. The People's Armed Police Force used tear gas and charged the protesters, who attempted to block mining company personnel from entering the region. Authorities have since initiated talks on the project with local village leaders.