51.   Earlier this year he suggested that he wanted the settlers to be able to remain indefinitely in the city, the burial place of biblical patriarchs.

52.   For a right-wing leader in Israel, the sweet talk was a bold overture at a time when worried Jewish settlers are threatening rebellion.

53.   He agrees that the first settlers probably were not from north-central Asia.

54.   He hoped that the affected settlers would be patient until the State Development Corporation found a new buyer to settle the outstanding payments.

55.   Hebron settlers are religious, and Jewish law bars them from answering the telephone on the Sabbath.

56.   Hebron settlers are religious, and Jewish law bars them from speaking to reporters or answering the telephone on the Sabbath which lasts from sundown Friday to sundown Saturday.

57.   Hebron settlers have been targets of attack by Palestinian militants.

58.   However, Abington remained silent when mourners complained to him about what they said were settler provocations.

59.   However, Israeli police spokeswoman Linda Menuhin said there was no reason to believe settlers were involved in the killing.

60.   However, Netanyahu later said he only learned about the takeover after the settlers were already in Ras al-Amud.