Rumour sparks Hebron settler riot

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The riot by settlers went on for several hours overnight

Jewish settlers continued to riot in the West Bank city of Hebron on Tuesday, clashing with Israeli troops who normally protect them.

Violence broke out overnight as rumours spread that troops were about to evict settlers from a disputed building in the mainly Palestinian city.

Hundreds of settlers and supporters converged on the building, throwing stones at Palestinians and the police.

Reports say several Palestinians have been injured.

HEBRON FACTS Divided into H1 and H2 under 1997 agreement 115,000 Palestinians lives in H1 under Palestinian security control H2 is under Israeli security control and is home to several hundred settlers and 35,000 Palestinians Tomb of Patriarchs and traditional Palestinian town centre is in H2 Palestinian life: Splits and barriers Mixed emotions on Hebron tour Fact meets fiction in Hebron film Hebron turned into 'ghost town'

Soldiers used stun grenades against the rioters, but have not attempted to seize the building.

Reports say some Palestinians have retaliated by throwing stones at the settlers.

The Israeli military says Jewish settlers in other parts in the West Bank have also blocked roads and thrown stones at Palestinian cars.

In the northern West Bank, near Nablus, dozens of settlers clashed with Palestinians and border police in a show of support for the Hebron settlers. There were several arrests.

Several hundred hard-line religious settlers live in the centre of Hebron under heavy military guard amid some 150,000 Palestinians.

The settlers say that they bought the house in question in a legal transaction from its Palestinian owner for nearly $1m (£660,000), but he says he pulled out of the deal.

Israel's supreme court ordered the eviction in November but settlers have refused to leave.

They have been involved in several clashes since the order was issued, and have desecrated a mosque and a Muslim cemetery.

Hebron is holy to both Jews and Muslims as the site of the cave that Abraham bought as a burial site for his wife Sarah.

All settlements in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, are considered illegal under international law though Israel disputes this.