KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: We turn our attention now to the Mideast, where sacred ground is a battleground as Palestinians clash with Israeli troops. CNN Jerusalem Bureau Chief Mike Hanna joins us now with the latest on that -- Mike.</s>MIKE HANNA, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Kyra, the latest victim in this ongoing violence, a 14-year-old Palestinian youth in the West Bank town of Nablus. A hospital spokesman in the town says the youth died after being hit by a rubber coated steel bullet in a confrontation between Palestinian demonstrators and Israeli security forces. Such confrontations have taken place in many areas of the Palestinian territories. In the Gaza Strip, according to the Israeli Defense Force, there was an attempt by demonstrators to attack an Israeli settlement there. In several West Bank towns the demonstrations by Palestinians have erupted into direct confrontation with Israeli forces. The Israeli forces say that stones, and in some cases, fire bombs, were thrown at the soldiers or police in the region. They responded, they say, with rubber coated steel bullets as well as on a couple of occasions live ammunition. So a critical situation throughout the territory. The Palestinians insist that this is a result of what they call Israeli provocation by allowing a conservative right-wing politician to visit a holy site in the Old City of Jerusalem on Thursday. They say, too, that Israeli soldiers are using what they call excessive force. This denied by an Israeli spokesman, who says that the Israeli forces are using whatever force is necessary to protect Israeli lives. A victim, too, though, the peace process, severely damaged by the current round of conflict. I'm Mike Hanna, CNN, reporting live from Jerusalem.
Sacred Ground is Battleground for Palestinians, Isaraelis