41.   But Palestinian journalists reported gun battles between the two sides in the West Bank town of Bethlehem, which is under Palestinian rule.

42.   But situation had been improving recently, said Zakariya el-Talmas, head of the Palestinian journalists association.

43.   During a visit to a Hebron settler enclave by Finance Minister Dan Meridor on Thursday, settlers demanded that Palestinian journalists leave.

44.   Earlier, settlers in Hebron stoned Palestinians and beat up three Palestinian journalists working for foreign news agencies, eyewitnesses and Israeli police said.

45.   Earlier, settlers in Hebron stoned Palestinians and beat up three Palestinian journalists working for foreign news agencies, witnesses and Israeli police said.

46.   Eight Palestinian journalists were shot with rubber bullets Friday night in the West Bank town of Hebron as Israeli troops clashed with stone-throwing Palestinian demonstrators.

47.   During a visit to a Hebron settler enclave by Finance Minister Dan Meridor Thursday, settlers demanded that Palestinian journalists leave.

48.   Eid noted the absence of Palestinian journalists at the news conference as evidence they felt repressed.

49.   Five Palestinian journalists remained in Israeli custody for questioning while one was released this past week, an Israeli official said Saturday.

50.   Four months ago, Palestinian journalists held a similar strike during a meeting of the Palestinian legislative council to protest treatment of the press.