Israel's parliament has passed a law toughening penalties against Palestinian rock throwers.

The law comes as Israel is struggling to contain a wave of Palestinian attacks, mainly stabbings, and violent clashes at demonstrations in the West Bank and east Jerusalem.

It was first introduced months ago, before the current violence began.

The law places a minimum sentence of three years on offenders and strips rock throwers of their social security benefits, a punishment that applies to Palestinians in east Jerusalem who have Israeli residency rights.

The parents of minors convicted of rock throwing could also have their social security benefits annulled during the period of the offender's sentence.

Israel's parliament, the Knesset, announced on its website on Tuesday that the law passed in a final reading.By John Hayes-Fisher

BBC Timewatch



Bones reveal the darker side to building Ancient Egypt

Bone discovery

Skeletal remains from a lost city in the middle of Egypt suggest many ordinary people died in their teenage years and lived a punishing lifestyle.

Many suffered from spinal injuries, poor nutrition and stunted growth.

The remains were found at Amarna, a new capital built on the orders of the Pharaoh Akhenaten, 3,500 years ago.

Hieroglyphs written at the time record that the Pharaoh, who was father of Tutankhamun, was driven to create a new city in honour of his favoured god, the Aten, with elaborate temples, palaces and tombs.

Along with his wife Nefertiti, he abandoned the capital Thebes, leaving the old gods and their priests behind and marched his people 200 miles (320km) north to an inhospitable desert