The radio said Israeli troops fired tear gas and rubber bullets at Palestinians who tried to prevent them from destroying a house, believed to be in the way of West Bank fence.

    Dozens of Israeli construction workers with electric chain saws,accompanied by five bulldozers, entered Bidou near Jerusalem and began cutting down olive trees.

    Hundreds of villagers tried to obstruct the path of the bulldozers and threw stones at soldiers guarding the work crew, theIsraeli army said.

    The radio reported that some Israeli left-wing activists were also wounded in the clashes and three Palestinians were arrested during the scuffles.

    In recent weeks, dozens of anti-fence protests have erupted in Palestinian villages in the West Bank, particularly those near Jerusalem. Enditem