JERUSALEM, March 12, 2011 (WAFA) – Clashes erupted Saturday between Palestinian residents of Silwan, an East Jerusalem neighborhoods, and Israeli police following the weekly protest against Israeli attempts to raze Palestinian homes to replace them with a Jewish park.

Clashes began at the sit-in tent in Al Bustan, the area of Silwan where Israel wants to build the park, after Friday prayers. Clashes spread to other areas of and intensified in the late hours to include Al-Thawri neighborhood, near Silwan.

Israeli police fired sound and light bombs, rubber bullets and dozens of tear gas canisters at the Palestinians and their homes causing severe suffocation, especially among the sick, elderly and children, where most cases were treated in the same location, according to eyewitnesses.

Undercover units of the Israeli police attempted to arrest some of the youths, who threw rocks and bottles at the police. Three Israeli undercover police were hurt.

Palestinians also burnt tires and attacked Israeli settlement outposts, particularly Beit Yonatan and Beit Al Asl in Silwan.

Israeli police targeted journalist while they were trying to cover the attack on people praying in Al Bustan tent and prevented them from entering the area to cover the events.

They also prevented ambulances from entering the town to transport the injured, where Palestinians had to depend on medical and health clinics in the town and on ambulance crews and mobile relief units.

T.R.M.A.