国际英语新闻：Palestinians, Israeli troops clash in south of Nablus: witnesses

RAMALLAH, June 26 (Xinhua) -- Clashes erupted Saturday between Israeli soldiers and Palestinians backed by members of International Solidarity Movements (ISM) south of the West Bank city of Nablus, witnesses said.

According to the witnesses, an Israeli army force dispersed dozens of Palestinian demonstrators and ISM members during an anti- Israeli wall and settlement expansion protest in the village of Erak Bourin, south of Nablus.

They added that the soldiers fired tear gas canisters to disperse the demonstrators, who hurled stones at the soldiers. Medical sources said no injuries were reported.

The demonstrators waved Palestinian flags and chanted slogans against the separation wall built by Israel in the West Bank lands, calling on Israel to stop building settlements in the West Bank and Jerusalem.

They also called on Islamic Hamas movement and Fatah party to reconcile and end their political rifts.

Palestinians in the West Bank, who are in favor of nonviolent protests and demonstrations, arrange weekly protests in several West Bank towns and villages against the Israeli construction of wall and settlement expansion.