21.  Besides, Palestinian officials have shown scant interest in any finds that show Jewish roots in territories they consider their own.

22.  Both Israeli police and Palestinian officials say they have no indication that Ali was involved in political activities related to the current fighting.

23.  A last-minute court injunction averted an immediate crisis, and Palestinian officials are waiting for a ruling on the closure order next Monday.

24.  A French diplomat who was in the West Bank in early February told me that local Palestinian officials were disheartened by the absence of clear directives from the top.

25.  A few years ago, a photo of Ahmed Qureia, one of the top three Palestinian officials, was splashed on the cover of every Israeli newspaper.

26.  A Palestinian official said the bombers carried Israeli identification cards and lived in East Jerusalem.

27.  A Palestinian official standing nearby said that Salameh, who wore bandages from injuries sustained in the shelling, was probably not going to look too hard.

28.  A joint communique, prepared days ago, was read by Saeb Erekat, a senior Palestinian official.

29.  A Palestinian official identified the man suspected of shooting Sharif as Awad Awadallah, a bomb-maker still at large.

30.  A Palestinian official said a member of the security forces was shot dead as he fled a checkpoint during the raid.