Settlers go on rampage in Hebron

Palestinian witnesses said about 100 settlers attacked houses in Hebron, setting fires, breaking doors and windows and firing at houses.

The dead girl, Neveen Jamjoum, was shot while sitting just inside the doorway of her house. Hospital officials said she was 13 after medical sources initially said she was eight years old.

Israeli police spokesman said Palestinians provoked the settlers. ‘‘During the funeral procession, Palestinians threw stones at the mourners, who charged forward. There was shooting, and scuffles between police and settlers, but we are investigating,’’ he said.

The meetings US Secretary of State Colin Powell will hold were expected to be the most senior US contacts with the Palestinian Authority since President George W. Bush called last month for Yasser Arafat to be sidelined as Palestinian leader. ‘‘Last week I met with an Israeli delegation. This is part of the process of moving forward to help the Palestinian community transform itself,’’ said Powell. He said the meeting would be held early next month after he returns to Washington.

Senior Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat said the talks would be held on August 5-6, with a delegation including himself and new Interior Minister Abdel Razzak al Yahya, who supervises the Palestinian security forces.

‘‘The (settlers) attacked the area and started shooting at the house and then we threw stones at them so they would leave. They shot the girl in the head and me in my leg,’’ a Palestinian man, who did not give his name, said from his hospital bed.

‘‘The funeral left the Cave of the Patriarchs, and then the barrage began — stone, rocks, bits of iron which could cause another slaughter. Settlers fired in the air,’’ Benzi Ram, a Jewish settler, said. — Reuters