51.   Under the emerging accord, Palestinians would control most of the town and Israeli troops would only remain in a few areas in order to protect the settlers.

52.   Hebron came under Palestinian self-rule last January, although Israeli troops remained in a fifth of the city to protect Jewish settlers there.

53.   Israel wants to maintain security control to protect the settlers.

54.   Israel insists on retaining security control to protect the settlers.

55.   A small contingent of Israeli troops is to remain in Hebron, which has been a flashpoint of violence on the West Bank, to protect the settlers.

56.   But he recalled that Israel had committed itself to protecting settlers during the five-year period of Palestinian autonomy in the territories.

57.   The soldiers intervened to protect the settlers and beat the Palestiniains with batons, injuring five, including a female journalist who was taken to hospital.

58.   The settlers were protected as they went into the tomb by a concrete wall and Israeli border guards.

59.   Troops will remain in Hebron to protect the settlers, and it will only come under partial Palestinian control in March.

60.   Under special arrangements Israeli troops will stay in Hebron to protect the settlers as Palestinian self-rule is extended on the West Bank.