Press TV - Fresh clashes have broken out between Palestinian protesters and Israeli forces across the West Bank over US President Donald Trumps decision to recognize Jerusalem al-Quds as the Israeli capitalin defiance of international condemnations.
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 ofAriha.
Similiar skirmishes broke out between anti-Trump protesters and Israeli forces in Beit Ummartown, 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 Maan news agency.
[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="550"]
A Palestinian protester throws a stone during clashes with Israeli forces in Bethlehem, West Bank, December 27, 2018. (Photo by AFP)[/caption]Meanwhile, Israeli sources claimed that the Tel Aviv regimes forces had been able to intercept a number of rockets fired from Gaza at Sdot Negev and Shaar 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 Israels capital and relocate the US embassy in occupied lands from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem al-Quds.
The dramatic shift in Washingtons policy vis--vis the city triggered demonstrations in the occupied Palestinian territories, Iran, Turkey, Egypt, Jordan, Tunisia, Algeria, Iraq, Moroccoand 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 bodys 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.
