Facebook Yanks Intifada Page

Facebook has yanked an "Intifada" page urging a Palestinian uprising against Israel. The site, the Third Palestinian Intifada, was pulled for promoting violence after Israel complained, said Facebook officials. Some 350,000 people were following the page, which called for an uprising following Muslim prayers on May 15. "Judgment Day will be brought upon us only once the Muslims have killed all of the Jews," the page read. At least three copycat pages have been created since the site was jettisoned. Facebook said the site started with calls for peaceful protest. "However, comments deteriorated to direct calls for violence," said a spokesman.

"We monitor pages that are reported to us, and when they degrade to direct calls for violence or expressions of hate—as occurred in this case—we have and will continue to take them down," he added. In a letter last week to Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg, an Israeli minister said the page featured "wild incitement." While the minister said he welcomed the decision to pull the site, he added: "I am sure that more cat-and-mouse games await us and there will be attempts by our enemies to enter Facebook." A member of the Palestinian party Fatah said the minister "needs lessons in human rights and freedom of expression," reports the BBC. (More Facebook stories.)