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Israeli soldiers stand near the roof of Beit Anieh Church on Friday, from where officials say they fired tear gas grenades
at Palestinians (MaanImages)
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JERUSALEM (Ma'an) -- Four Palestinians were injured and one was detained east of Jerusalem on Friday when violent clashes broke out between residents and Israeli forces, an official said.

Hani Habiya, spokesman of the local popular committee, told Ma'an that clashes broke out in the village of al-Eizariya between Palestinians and Israeli soldiers.

Locals threw stones and Israeli forces fired rubber-coated steel bullets, injuring four Palestinians, Habiya said.

Israeli forces climbed to the roofs of Beit Anieh Church, al-Azar Tomb, and al-Eizariya mosque, and fired tear gas grenades directly toward Palestinians, Habiya said. Dozens suffered from excessive tear gas inhalation.

He said the clashes started when Israeli soldiers tried to close a hole in the separation wall that activists had drilled two days before.

A spokeswoman for the Israeli army did not return calls seeking comment.

The internationally recognized Palestinian territories of which the West Bank and East Jerusalem form a part have been occupied by the Israeli military since 1967.