By Anees Barghouthi
RAMALLAH – Clashes erupted Tuesday morning between Palestinian youths and Israeli soldiers after Israeli bulldozers demolished a house owned by a Palestinian family in the town of Abu Dis east of Jerusalem.
Bassam Bahar, head of the Committee for the Defense of Land in Abu Dis, told Anadolu Agency that Israeli army personnel – backed by more than 30 military vehicles – had raided the town and demolished a residence owned by the Abu Sneineh family.
Radio Israel quoted officials as saying that the house had been built without a permit.
Clashes ensued between local residents and Israeli soldiers, who responded by firing rubber bullets and teargas canisters.
At least two Palestinians were arrested during the melee, according to the local Wafa news agency.
The violence spilled over to the nearby Al-Quds University, which was also stormed by Israeli forces firing teargas, eyewitnesses said.
In response, university administrators announced the temporary closure of the campus.
"This time of year, most students have first-term exams, so all of today's exams were postponed," one student said.
Local resident Ammar Salameh, who owns a building close to the demolished house, said that he had been notified that his building, too, was scheduled for demolition.
Tensions were high in the cities of the West Bank Tuesday morning after Israeli forces killed a "wanted" Palestinian youth near the city of Ramallah.
englishnews@aa.com.tr
