Palestinians, Israeli Troops Clash Amid Hebron Crowds

HEBRON, West Bank — Hundreds of Palestinians hurled stones and bottles Saturday at Israeli troops, who fired back with rubber bullets in an hours-long clash that was interrupted occasionally to let people pass. Seven protesters and one Israeli border policeman were injured.

The deafening boom of percussion grenades echoed through busy shopping streets in the center of Hebron as the two sides fought off and on for several hours before the crowd of 400 protesters dispersed.

Even at the height of the clash, the two sides would call an occasional truce to let pedestrians pass.

“Cease fire!” the stone-throwers and soldiers would shout, and Palestian shoppers would scurry through.

One Palestinain was arrested. Witnsses said soldiers kicked him before taking him away in a jeep. Army radio said a border policeman was slightly injured after being hit by a rock.

The clash in Hebron came as Palestinians denounced Israel’s latest stance on Jewish settlements and troop deployments and accused U.S. envoy Dennis B. Ross of siding with Israel.