Were hundreds of angry, chanting Indians to charge the Pakistani border, Islamabad’s army certainly would act to protect the nation’s sovereignty. Likewise for either nation on the Polish-Ukrainian border, the South African-Mozambiqui border, the Nicaraguan-Honduras border and so many others. So who is surprised that last week, when hundreds of Palestinians charged Israel from Syria, the Israel Defense Forces responded? And this came after warnings to Syrian counterparts about the need to prevent a planned breach, and after the use of gas on the scene to try to disperse advancing, angry crowds. Sadly, up to several dozen Palestinians were killed and many more were wounded (reportedly in part from landmines set off by Palestinian Molotov cocktails). Not shocking was the quick condemnation in some corners of Israel.

This is all inspired by the retinue of different but mutually inspired popular revolts in Arab countries against decades of autocratic rule and brutal oppression of opposing voices. That aside, Israeli security officials are warning that more such clashes could be coming.

In short, this is an extremely dangerous twist in the Arab-Israeli conflict, one that sets the Jewish state up anew to be labeled the neighborhood bully that must be stopped by the international community. For Israeli and American Jews, it calls for new political and physical responses. For the former, that includes pressing American, European and other lawmakers to speak out against Syria, as the Obama White House’s did this week on the matter. For the latter, it calls for new and better crowd control measures – including in East Jerusalem and the West Bank.

A final note: By mid-week Syrian soldiers began restraining the demonstrators. How telling: Instead of wanting more provocations to divert attention from Syria’s slaughter of anti-government demonstrators, the army is in “save the regime” mode. It’s last desire is a face-off with superior Israeli troops. It needs its focus to be on brutally halting the opponents of its bosses. The meandering turns of the Arab Spring seem to be heading toward a hot summer.