OCCUPIED JERUSALEM -- Israeli occupied Jerusalem was the scene of another deadly and bloody clash on Saturday. Palestinians in Jerusalem and surrounding communities have come to defend their holy places from being violated by the occupying forces. Jerusalem is an Arab and Muslim city was occupied in 1967 by Jew European forces in which they claim G-d had promised them the city.

Saturday's bloody event was Jerusalem's day, thousands of Palestinians after being neglected by the occupation and left humiliated at heart in the most holy of their holy places went to the street to defend themselves and their holy places. A new Intifada is in the making, it seems the average Palestinian"Muslim and Christian" lost hope and gave up on the negotiations realizing the only way he/she/they can liberate their land was by force. So, they demonstrated and some were martyred for the sake of free Palestine and free Jerusalem.

The battle goes on as we report to you, the Palestinian Authority said 12 Palestinians were killed and four were brain dead as a result of army fire. Another 523 were injured, said Palestinian Health Minister Riad Zanoun. The Palestinians killed amongst them a 12 year old boy who was hit by an Israeli soldier while being protected by his father who was also hurt.

"Jerusalem Oh Jerusalem, they want to take you away from us after 1400 hundred years, oh Jerusalem, shame on them, they don't know we will die for you, we will protect you even if takes us another hundred years, we will not surrender. You are ours and it doesn't matter what the world says, we know we are right, we are the victim and God is on our side". A Palestinian elderly man in his early seventies told me as he was in the process of throwing a stone at the Israeli soldiers on the other side. "a moving experience"

Saturday's violence is the bloodiest at the holy site since 1990, when Israeli soldiers opened fire on Palestinian stone-throwers and killed 18 people.

The protests were sparked by Israel's right-wing "war criminal" Likud party leader Ariel Sharon's visit Thursday to Jerusalem's Noble Sanctuary (Haram al-Sharif ) -- the third holiest shrine in Islam.

At one point Saturday, Palestinian police in uniform and plainclothes exchanged fire with Israeli troops near the Jewish settlement of Netzarim in Gaza.

In the negotiation, the Palestinians "Arafat Authority" want east Jerusalem as the capital of their state, while the Israelis demand that the city remain undivided and under their control.

"We are here because we here humiliated in the heart of our most sacred place," said 17-year-old Hassan Abu Ali. He wore a Palestinian flag around his head as he threw stones at Israeli soldiers.

Palestinian leaders were accusing Israel of using excessive force while a government spokesman says the Israeli Defense Forces' goal is to protect Israelis and Israeli settlements.

Palestinian leaders had expressed outrage at Israel's use of sniper riflemen to target protest leaders.

"There was no use of the proper instruments of so-called riot control," said Palestinian peace negotiator Nabil Shaath. "This was premeditated murder of people shot by sniper. That escalates the situation to a very dangerous situation."

Egypt and Saudi Arabia blamed Israel for the latest violence, US President Bill Clinton and UN Chief Kofi Anan called on both parties to calm the situation down.

Hiyam Haider Reporting from Occupied Jerusalem     Posted 7:15pm -- Sept. 30, 2000