Dozens of Jewish settlers take over buildings in West Bank

Civilians ands security forces gather at scene of a shooting attack near the West Bank city of Hebron, not far from the Jewish settlement of Otniel, Friday, Nov. 13, 2015. A Palestinian gunman opened fire on Friday, killing an Israeli father and son as they were driving in the West Bank and wounding at least one other person in the car, Israeli officials said, the latest in a nearly two-month rash of violence and almost daily Palestinian attacks on Israeli civilians and soldiers. (AP Photo/ Nasser Shiyoukhi) (AP Photo/ Nasser Shiyoukhi)

Israeli officials say dozens of Jewish settlers have taken over a number of Palestinian buildings in the heart of the West Bank city of Hebron.

Police said about 100 settlers entered three "empty stores."

Zeev Elkin, a pro-settler lawmaker from the ruling Likud party, said in a statement the settlers entered houses that were bought legally. He praised them for "expanding the Jewish presence" in the city.

The military said clashes broke out when the settlers arrived to the area Thursday.

Hebron is a frequent flashpoint for violence. Some 850 Israeli settlers live in heavily-guarded enclaves surrounded by tens of thousands of Palestinians.