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Villagers hurt in West Bank clash Villagers hurt in West Bank clash
(about 4 hours later)
At least eight Palestinian have been injured in clashes near an Israeli settlement where a Palestinian killed a teenager with an axe last week. Fifteen Palestinian have been injured, one seriously, in clashes near an Israeli settlement where a Palestinian killed a youth with an axe last week.
Israel's military said Palestinians began throwing stones as settlers marked a Jewish blessing on a hilltop.Israel's military said Palestinians began throwing stones as settlers marked a Jewish blessing on a hilltop.
Palestinians say the clashes broke out after armed Israeli settlers from Beit Ayin attacked homes in Beit Safa, a nearby Palestinian village. Palestinians say settlers from Beit Ayin tried to enter Safa, a nearby Palestinian village, throwing rocks and firing in the air.
Israeli forces say they fired live bullets at the legs of stone-throwers.Israeli forces say they fired live bullets at the legs of stone-throwers.
A hospital in the West Bank town of Hebron said one Palestinian was seriously injured and another three were moderately hurt. Paramedics at the scene told the BBC that a 20-year-old was in a critical condition after being hit in the neck with a live round.
Doctors said one of the injured was hit in the neck with a live round. Several of the injured had been hit by live ammunition, the paramedics said.
The Israeli military said Palestinians had begun throwing stones at settlers from Bat Ayin in the southern West Bank, who had gone to a hilltop to say a special sun blessing prayer in an event which occurs once every 28 years.The Israeli military said Palestinians had begun throwing stones at settlers from Bat Ayin in the southern West Bank, who had gone to a hilltop to say a special sun blessing prayer in an event which occurs once every 28 years.
Palestinian residents of Beit Safa said a group of settlers, some armed, had entered their village and begun throwing rocks at homes and damaging cars. Safa residents say the settlers than tried to enter the village, while locals tried to stop them.
They said Israeli forces had arrived and used tear gas, rubber coated bullets and live ammunition to end the disturbance. Israeli soldiers arrived along with the settlers, firing tear gas, rubber-coated bullets and live ammunition, the residents said.
An Israeli military spokesperson said "crowd dispersing means" were used initially, but when the crowd became more violent, troop used live ammunition to target the lower body parts of some people in the crowd, and "identified hits". Israel forces fired tear gas and live rounds
An Israeli military spokesperson said "crowd dispersing means" were used initially, but when the crowd became more violent, troops used live ammunition to target the lower body parts of some people in the crowd, and "identified hits".
The BBC's Katya Adler reported from the scene that the troops were trying to push back a group of rock-throwing young Palestinian men.
The soldiers had taken over a number of houses in the village and were flying Israeli flags from the roof tops, our correspondent said.
Axe attackAxe attack
About 1,000 Israelis live between the towns of Hebron and Bethlehem. About 1,000 Israelis live in the settlement of Bat Ayin, between the towns of Hebron and Bethlehem.
Last week, a Palestinian armed with an axe killed a 13-year-old boy and injured a seven-year-old in the settlement.Last week, a Palestinian armed with an axe killed a 13-year-old boy and injured a seven-year-old in the settlement.
In 2002, three residents of the settlement were given long jail terms for trying to blow up a Palestinian girls' school in Jerusalem.In 2002, three residents of the settlement were given long jail terms for trying to blow up a Palestinian girls' school in Jerusalem.
In response to the axe attack last week, the new right-wing government of Benjamin Netanyahu said it would take a tough line on security in the West Bank and elsewhere.In response to the axe attack last week, the new right-wing government of Benjamin Netanyahu said it would take a tough line on security in the West Bank and elsewhere.
Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank are considered illegal under international law, although Israel disputes this.Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank are considered illegal under international law, although Israel disputes this.
The violence comes amid concerns over a clash of opinion between the new Israeli government, led by right-winger Binyamin Netanyahu, and Barack Obama's US administration. The violence comes amid concerns over a clash of opinion between the new government and Barack Obama's US administration.
Mr Obama has stressed his commitment to a two-state solution, but Mr Netanyahu does not back the creation of a sovereign Palestinian state.Mr Obama has stressed his commitment to a two-state solution, but Mr Netanyahu does not back the creation of a sovereign Palestinian state.
His Foreign Minister, far-right politician Avigdor Lieberman, said on Tuesday that peace talks with the Palestinians had reached a "dead end". His foreign minister, far-right politician Avigdor Lieberman, said on Tuesday that peace talks with the Palestinians had reached a "dead end".
Protesting against international pressure, he said: "We have never interfered with other people's affairs and we expect of others not stand with a stopwatch in hand."Protesting against international pressure, he said: "We have never interfered with other people's affairs and we expect of others not stand with a stopwatch in hand."