Religious Zionism, which had been marginal to Israeli politics, gained strength, not least among the first Israelis who came to build settlements in the West Bank.

NEWYORKER: The Party Faithful

In the Middle East people started to build settlements as early as 15, 000 years ago, a period called the Early Natufian, but a drying of the climate made them nomadic again between 12, 800 and 11, 500 years ago.

ECONOMIST: The earliest granaries

On Wednesday, Pakistan's prime minister, Shaukat Aziz, said that instead of rebuilding cities lost in the quake, the government would build new settlements, constructed to higher standards, nearby.

ECONOMIST: Tragedy on one of the world’s main fault lines | The

Mr Netanyahu has said Israel will not build new settlements, but wants to continue building within existing ones to allow for the "natural growth" of the communities living there.

BBC: Israel-US settlement deal 'close'

Secured food supplies made larger settlements possible and, more important, allowed humans to build walls against predators, environmental threats and competing tribes.

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