Riot at funeral of Israeli settler

Jewish settlers rampaged through the West Bank city of Hebron yesterday, smashing the windows of Palestinian homes and setting cars on fire as they prepared to bury a settler killed by Palestinians.

The body of Natanel Ozeri, 34, killed by Palestinian gunmen on Friday at his home in an illegal outpost near the city, became entangled in a tug-of-war between settlers and Israeli security forces during his funeral procession.

Settlers wanted to bury him where he was shot but police blocked the way. The violence came nine days before Israel's elections, whichthe Likud party of Ariel Sharon, the Prime Minister, is likely to win.

Israeli media reported that Mr Ozeri was a member of the outlawed anti-Arab Kach movement and had been jailed for rioting at a settler's funeral in July.