MIDDLE EAST: ISRAELI-PALESTINIAN CLASHES (2)

(8 Dec 2000) Natural Sound
XFA
Palestinians marking the anniversary of their first uprising, threw rocks and fought gun
battles with Israeli troops on Friday.
Seven Palestinians were killed, and two Israelis were slain in a drive-by shooting.
The bloody clashes on Friday has made it the deadliest day of Israeli-Palestinian fighting since November 21st and further dimmed prospects of a resumption of peace talks.
Clashes escalated across the West Bank and in the heart of the Old City of Jerusalem following the weekly Friday prayers.
Outside the Al Aqsa Mosque compound in Jerusalem, scores of Palestinians threw rocks at Israeli police after noon prayers and set fire to a small police post.
Police fired rubber-coated steel pellets, tear gas and stun grenades.
Seven demonstrators were injured, including one who was in serious condition with a rubber bullet wound to the head.
Several police officers were also hurt. The confrontation spilled over into the Via Dolorosa, or Way of Sorrows, the path tradition says Jesus took to his crucifixion.
In biblical Bethlehem, a 16-year-old Palestinian was killed by a shot to the head during rock-throwing clashes, doctors said.
In the West Bank city of Hebron youths clashed with I-D-F forces in the centre of the city.
Other Palestinians, unable to get into the mosque to attend prayers, prayed in the streets outside watched by a heavy police and army presence.
In the heart of the West Bank city of Ramallah Palestinian gunmen engaged in a fierce gun-battle with Israeli security forces.
Palestinian gunmen shot at Israeli army positions from disused building over looking the flashpoint Ayosh junction.
Israeli troops returned heavy fire.
Palestinian activists had declared Friday and Saturday "days of rage" to mark the uprising, against Israel 23 years ago to the day.
The revolt ended with 13 September 1993 agreement of mutual recognition between Israel and the P-L-O that paved the way for peace talks.
The recent tensions began on September 28, at a time when talks on a final peace accord were deadlocked.

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