JERUSALEM -- Jewish settlers cursed, prayed and wept yesterday as they brawled with Israeli soldiers in the Gaza Strip, while a widening campaign of protests snarled traffic across Israel and led to over 150 arrests.

Seven weeks before Israel is to begin uprooting 21 Jewish settlements in Gaza and four smaller ones in the northern West Bank, the efforts of opponents to block the withdrawal is taking on an increasingly violent edge.

Protesters for the first time scattered spikes and sloshed oil across the busy Jerusalem-Tel Aviv highway during the morning commute. Hours later, Israeli police for the first time used water cannon against demonstrators, many of them teens, who darted into traffic and tried to sit or lie in front of cars during evening rush hour.

In a separate confrontation in Gaza's main settlement bloc of Gush Katif, Israeli troops arrested nine settlers who were suspected of attacking local Palestinians. Two Palestinian teenagers were hospitalized in serious condition after being stoned by settlers.

Also yesterday, the Lebanese radical group Hezbollah fired at least 15 mortar shells across Israel's northern border, killing one Israeli soldier and wounding five others. Israeli military officials have been predicting increased Hezbollah activity in the weeks leading up to the Gaza settlement evacuation. The officials say that by increasing its attacks, Hezbollah hopes to both draw Israeli military resources from the evacuation and create the impression that Israel is being forced to withdraw.

Israeli troops responded to the attack yesterday with artillery fire, and Israeli fighter aircraft struck several targets in southern Lebanon.

Amid billowing clouds of dust kicked up by the Gaza melee, settlers screamed epithets such as "Nazis!" at young soldiers. When the troops began making arrests, settlers shoved and wrestled with them or else went limp and had to be carried away.

Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon pledged anew that the withdrawal would go ahead, and said protesters who resort to vandalism and dangerous acts would be punished.