RAMALLAH, October 19 (JMCC) - Clashes broke out in the Jerusalem neighborhood of Silwan Monday as Israeli forces sought to demolish a protest tent established to resist the growing presence of Israeli settlers in the area.

Thirteen Palestinians were injured and at least eight detained as Israeli military and police descended upon the neighborhood late Sunday.

We are sure that Israel came to demolish the tent to take the pulse of local residents and their potential to react, Fakhri Abu Dhiab, a local leader, and this is a portent that the demolition of the neighborhood could come at any moment.

Eighty-eight homes in Silwan have been issued with demolition orders for being built without the required permits. Israeli officials seek to recreate the area into an archeological park adjoining Jerusalem's Old City holy sites.

Residents were in a panic, they said, fearing that the neighborhood crackdown would lead to the demolition of the homes.

Jawad Siyam said that Israeli forces came to ask him to remove a protest tent established on his roof. News of the impending destruction of the tent brought out hundreds of protesters who clashed with police, he said.