It was a small group of Jewish immigrants who guarded settlements for an annual fee.

Tonight, he said he would transfer some forces guarding Jewish settlements to reinforce the line separating Israel and the West Bank.

Its goal was to put the responsibility of guarding settlements in Jewish hands.

Since the uprising began, reservists are much more likely to find themselves going on patrols in the occupied areas and guarding Jewish settlements.

Many of the soldiers killed and wounded Sunday had been guarding Jewish settlements.

The Bar-Giora consisted of a small group of Jewish immigrants who guarded settlements for an annual fee.

Thick fog often rolls in from the Mediterranean at night, and Palestinian attackers in Gaza have taken advantage of the limited visibility to sneak up on soldiers guarding Jewish settlements.

Wednesday's incident highlighted the daily, often deadly, friction between forces guarding Jewish settlements and Palestinians in the Gaza Strip.

Since the current conflict began 27 months ago, many have had to guard checkpoints and settlements in the West Bank and Gaza, or fight in Palestinian cities.

Before 1871, the operations of the regiment were limited to guarding the mail and settlements against Indians and to desultory attempts to overtake bands of Indian raiders.