Fresh clashes erupt between Israeli troops, Palestinians in West Bank

Rasa - Fresh clashes have broken out between Palestinian protesters and Israeli forces across the West Bank over US President Donald Trump’s decision to recognize Jerusalem al-Quds as the Israeli “capital” in defiance of international condemnations.

News ID: 435552

Date: 29 December 2017 - 19:49

RNA - According to local sources, hundreds of Palestinians staged rallies in several West Bank cities, including Ariha (Jericho), Bethlehem and al-Khalil (Hebron) after Friday noon prayers.

Clashes were reported between Palestinian protesters and Israeli forces at the northern entrance to the eastern city of Ariha.

Similiar skirmishes broke out between anti-Trump protesters and Israeli forces in Beit Ummar town, northwest of al-Khalil, during which a Palestinian youth sustained serious injuries.

The Palestinians threw stones at Israeli soldiers, who fired live bullets, rubber-coated steel bullets and tear gas canisters in return, according to Ma’an news agency.

Meanwhile, Israeli sources claimed that the Tel Aviv regime’s forces had been able to intercept a number of rockets fired from Gaza at Sdot Negev and Sha’ar HaNegev regions amid the clashes.

The sources confirmed that a building was completely destroyed.

Tel Aviv usually uses such alleged incidents to step up its attacks against the besieged Gaza Strip.

On December 6, Trump announced his decision to recognize Jerusalem al-Quds as Israel’s capital and relocate the US embassy in occupied lands from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem al-Quds.

The dramatic shift in Washington’s policy vis-à-vis the city triggered demonstrations in the occupied Palestinian territories, Iran, Turkey, Egypt, Jordan, Tunisia, Algeria, Iraq, Morocco and other Muslim countries.

Later, the United Nations General Assembly overwhelmingly voted in favor of a resolution that calls on the US to withdraw its controversial recognition of Jerusalem al-Quds as Israeli “capital.”

Israel, however, rejected the world body’s resolution while thanking Trump for his decision to move US embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem al-Quds.

Jerusalem al-Quds remains at the core of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, with Palestinians hoping that the eastern part of the city would eventually serve as the capital of a future independent Palestinian state.

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