Ramallah, February 4 (RHC)-- Defiant Palestinian protesters have taken to the streets of the occupied West Bank to condemn Israel's settlement policy, and have been met with force.  Israeli forces used live ammunition against Palestinian protesters in the town of Beita, south of Nablus, on Friday, injuring two people.

The Palestine Red Crescent ambulance service said 42 Palestinians, including a journalist, were also hit with rubber bullets used by the Israeli forces during the clashes on Sobeih Mountain in Beita, adding that 87 others suffered breathing difficulties due to inhaling the tear gas fired by the troopers.

Since May, Beita has seen intensified clashes between Israeli forces and Palestinians protesting against a settlement outpost that has been established on Sobeih Mountain by settlers under the protection of Israeli forces.

To the east of Nablus, Israeli forces also attacked Palestinians taking part in an anti-settlement protest in the village of Beit Dajan on Friday, using tear gas and rubber bullets.

Israeli troops also attacked a weekly anti-settlement protest in the village of Kafr Qaddum in Qalqilya Province on Friday, using rubber bullets and tear gas.

Murad Shteiwi, a media spokesman in the Qalqilya region, said that fierce clashes erupted as Palestinians confronted Israeli troops.  He added that three Palestinians were hit with rubber bullets, while dozens of people suffered breathing difficulties due to the tear gas during the clashes.

In the early hours of Friday, the Israeli forces stormed the village and arrested two young men, identified as Qusay Adnan and Musa al-Qaddumi.