International activists and locals whose land is slated for confiscation marched from the city center on the road toward the Cremisan monastery in Beit Jala in the central West Bank, where Israeli bulldozers have begun overturning land to make way for its separation wall.
Confrontations erupted as demonstrators threw stones and empty bottles at the soldiers, who fired tear-gas canisters and stun grenades hitting three Palestinians. Soldiers assaulted demonstrators with clubs and rifle butts in face-to-face clashes, activist leader Imad Abu Nassar said.
Calls to the Israeli military were not immediately returned, but the Hebrew-language daily Yedioth Ahronoth reported that some 30 Palestinians and leftists hurled stones at "forces securing laborers constructing the separation fence in the area."
"The forces responded with tear gas and stun grenades, and declared the area a closed military zone," according to the report, which was apparently quoting the army. The crowd "began to disperse, and no injuries were reported," according to the newspaper.
In photos: Anti-wall rally in Beit Ummar
Soldiers injured two children and a journalist at a demonstration Saturday near Beit Jala, activists said.
Muhammed Jawad Awad, 9, was hit with shrapnel in his head, and a stun grenade struck Abu Mariyya, 14, in his back at the rally in Beit Ummar, Palestine Solidarity Project spokesman Muhammad Awad said.
Palestinian photojournalist Nasser Shiyoukhi, a photographer for The Associated Press, was beaten by Israeli soldiers to the extent that he sustained bruises to his back, Awad said.
Israeli activist Kobi Snitz, 32, was detained and several protesters suffered tear-gas inhalation at the protest which began in the village center and headed to the Karmi Zur settlement, the official added.
An Israeli military spokeswoman said that forces responded to a violent riot.
"Fifty rioters attempted to reach the Israeli community of Karme Zur and started a provocation earlier today. IDF soldiers arrived on the scene and presented the rioters with a military order to disperse," she said.
One of the suspected rioters was taken for further questioning, the official added.
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