Palestinians clashed with Israeli security forces in East Jerusalem today protesting the Israeli plans to build 1,600 new homes in the city. The Palestinians see the area as the capital of their future state.<br/><br/>According to Palestinian news agency WAFA, the arrests were made during the clashes which broke out between citizens and Israeli forces in several districts of the city of Jerusalem and within the walls of the Old City and beyond. <br/><br/>According to reports , police fired rubber bullets, stun grenades and tear gas at protesters who hurled stones and petrol bombs in several neighbourhoods. Israeli police spokesman Micky Rosenfeld said two officers were wounded and 15 Palestinians arrested. <br/><br/>In the Hamas-ruled Gaza Strip thousands of people took to the streets, pledging to protect the Holy city.<br/><br/>Israel's announcement last week to build 1,600 new Jewish settler homes in mainly Arab east Jerusalem has invited sharp criticism from UN,EU and US. It has also infuriated the Palestinians.<br/><br/>Meanwhile US Middle East envoy George Mitchell has delayed a visit to the region amid the diplomatic row between Israel and the United States, which has been struggling to revive peace talks.<br/><br/>AIR correspondent reports that the tension in the West bank and East Jerusalem area has been escalated following Israeli plans to build 1600 new homes for Jewish settlers in predominantly Arab east Jerusalem where Palestinians hope to make capital of their future state. For the past six months, Palestinian activists have demonstrated every Friday in the East Jerusalem neighbourhood, protesting the takeover of Palestinian homes by groups of Israeli settlers.<br/> Israel's announcement to build Jewish settler homes has invited sharp criticism from UN, EU and US. <br/><br/>US Middle East envoy George Mitchell has delayed a visit to the region amid the diplomatic row between Israel and the United States which has been struggling to revive Middle East peace talks. The Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has however said that Israel would continue to build in Jerusalem in the same way that it has done over the last 42 years.