An arrest raid by undercover Zionist commando force ignited rare clashes in the northern West Bank on Tuesday, residents said, leaving at least 100 Palestinians wounded.

An arrest raid by undercover Zionist commando force ignited rare clashes in the northern West Bank on Tuesday, residents said, leaving at least 100 Palestinians wounded.

The clashes began early Tuesday after Zionist forces disguised as Arab merchants in a vegetable truck arrested a local Islamic Jihad member. Regular army forces then entered the town, prompting youths to hurl rocks to try to prevent more arrests.

Palestinian security sources told AFP 30 people in Tamoun village were lightly injured by rubber bullets and one was moderately wounded when a live round hit his hand, while dozens more suffered from tear gas inhalation.

The Zionist military spokesman's office had no immediate comment but army radio said three soldiers were hit by stones.

"A special forces squad went in on an arrest operation," it reported. "It seems that family or local residents spotted the force and then very big disturbances started... Three soldiers were very lightly injured from stones."

Zionist forces fired tear gas, rubber bullets and live ammunition, as youths set tires and bins on fire to block the passage of military vehicles. In several hours of clashes, dozens of masked youths hid behind makeshift barriers, hurling rocks and firebombs at soldiers.