(28 Feb 2000) Natural Sound
Violent clashes have erupted between Palestinian students and Israeli soldiers near Bethlehem on Monday as part of continued protests against the visit of the French Prime Minister Lionel Jospin.
About one hundred students from Bethlehem University stoned the Israeli security forces who responded by firing tear gas on the marchers.
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What started as a peaceful march soon turned to violence.
These students from Bethlehem University were marching towards the historic site of Rachel's tombs in an Israeli controlled area near Bethlehem.
But when they came across Israeli security forces, the group of about a hundred started to throw stones and rocks.
The Israelis responded by blocking the road and firing tear gas on the protesters.
Much of the group's anger was directed at the visiting French Prime Minister Lionel Jospin.
During a visit to Bir Zeit University Jospin was stoned after earlier branding the Hezbollah guerrillas in south Lebanon terrorists.
Out of solidarity to Hezbollah, the Bethlehem marchers chanted slogans like: "Jospin you coward, we are freedom fighters and not terrorists."
It's not yet known if there were any injuries caused during the clashes, though an ambulance was seen leaving the area.
At the same time as the fighting, Dennis Ross, the U-S Middle East envoy, finished his meeting with Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat.
He is currently touring the region attempting to kick-start the flagging peace process.
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