He ordered an end to mortar fire last week, and it tapered off although shells were fired today on a Gaza settlement.

That would bring the population of the Gaza settlements, officially about 8,500 at the end of 2004, to at least 10,000.

But he says the Gaza settlements should go as part of his broader "disengagement" from the Palestinians.

The chain began in the Gaza settlement of Nisanit.

Shots were fired at a classroom in a community center in a Gaza settlement; the children were not injured.

The attack took place on the main road connecting Israeli Gaza settlements with Israel.

Its Gaza settlements have no economic purpose.

The recent violence, they claimed, has shown the Gaza settlements, in particular, to be indefensible points of friction.

Our Gaza settlements have unnecessarily exacerbated the miserable situation.

Israel would be best served by withdrawing from the Gaza settlements altogether.