Many Jews, however, have settled on the land for religious reasons, describing themselves as "pioneers" claiming the biblical heartland of Judea and Samaria.
Palestinian militant groups have declared settlers legitimate targets in their war against occupation, and have singled them out for attack with increasing regularity. For their part, some settlers have responded with attacks against Arabs and their property.
The settlement project began after the Arab-Israeli war of 1967, when Israel seized the West Bank and Gaza territories from Jordan and Egypt.
Since the 1993 Oslo peace accords, the...