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| Palestinian minister dies after West Bank confrontation with Israeli soldiers | Palestinian minister dies after West Bank confrontation with Israeli soldiers |
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| A senior minister in the government of the Palestinian president, Mahmoud Abbas, has died following a violent confrontation with Israeli soldiers in a West Bank village near Ramallah. | A senior minister in the government of the Palestinian president, Mahmoud Abbas, has died following a violent confrontation with Israeli soldiers in a West Bank village near Ramallah. |
| Ziad Abu Ain, who deals with the issue of Israeli settlements and the separation wall, died as he was being rushed to hospital after reportedly being pushed and shoved by Israeli troops while planting olive trees in the village of Turmusiya near Ramallah. | Ziad Abu Ain, who deals with the issue of Israeli settlements and the separation wall, died as he was being rushed to hospital after reportedly being pushed and shoved by Israeli troops while planting olive trees in the village of Turmusiya near Ramallah. |
| The Israeli military said it was looking into reports that Abu Ain, a senior figure on Fatah’s revolutionary council, collapsed and died after being struck in the chest at an event where he also inhaled teargas fired by Israeli security forces. | The Israeli military said it was looking into reports that Abu Ain, a senior figure on Fatah’s revolutionary council, collapsed and died after being struck in the chest at an event where he also inhaled teargas fired by Israeli security forces. |
| According to his family, Abu Ain had suffered from health problems including diabetes and high blood pressure. | According to his family, Abu Ain had suffered from health problems including diabetes and high blood pressure. |
| Mahmoud Aloul, a participant in the demonstration and a member of Fatah, said that he and Abu Ain had been among several dozen protesters carrying saplings to plant in protest at Israeli land seizures when the demonstrators were assaulted by Israeli troops who fired teargas and beat some of the participants with rifle butts. | Mahmoud Aloul, a participant in the demonstration and a member of Fatah, said that he and Abu Ain had been among several dozen protesters carrying saplings to plant in protest at Israeli land seizures when the demonstrators were assaulted by Israeli troops who fired teargas and beat some of the participants with rifle butts. |
| A Reuters photographer covering the demonstration, who witnessed the incident, said that the minister died after being “shoved” by Israeli troops. | A Reuters photographer covering the demonstration, who witnessed the incident, said that the minister died after being “shoved” by Israeli troops. |
| Chaim Levinson, a correspondent for the Israeli newspaper Haaretz who covers affairs in the occupied Palestinian territories, posted a picture of the minister on Twitter which he said had been taken “after Abu Ain was hit by an IDF soldier”. | Chaim Levinson, a correspondent for the Israeli newspaper Haaretz who covers affairs in the occupied Palestinian territories, posted a picture of the minister on Twitter which he said had been taken “after Abu Ain was hit by an IDF soldier”. |
| A Palestinian witness at the protest told Haaretz that he saw an officer from the border police hit Abu Ein with the butt of his gun and kick him. | A Palestinian witness at the protest told Haaretz that he saw an officer from the border police hit Abu Ein with the butt of his gun and kick him. |
| Another photograph, published by the Palestinian Maan news website, showed Abu Ain lying on the ground after his collapse. | |
| Confirming the minister’s death, a senior Palestine Liberation Organisation official told the Guardian: “He had gone to plant olive trees in Turmusiya for international human rights day when Israeli soldiers arrived to oppress the demonstration. There are different versions circulating about what happened but he wasn’t shot.” | Confirming the minister’s death, a senior Palestine Liberation Organisation official told the Guardian: “He had gone to plant olive trees in Turmusiya for international human rights day when Israeli soldiers arrived to oppress the demonstration. There are different versions circulating about what happened but he wasn’t shot.” |
| Abbas said Abu Ain’s death was “barbaric” and “an act that cannot be tolerated or accepted”. “We will take the necessary measures after the results of the investigation into the incident,” he added. | Abbas said Abu Ain’s death was “barbaric” and “an act that cannot be tolerated or accepted”. “We will take the necessary measures after the results of the investigation into the incident,” he added. |
| The death was also condemned by the Palestinian foreign minister, Riyad al-Maliki, who said that “Israel will pay” for the “murder” of Abu Ein. | The death was also condemned by the Palestinian foreign minister, Riyad al-Maliki, who said that “Israel will pay” for the “murder” of Abu Ein. |
| The minister’s death followed violent clashes in the area the night before, prompted by Israeli settlers’ claims that a horse had been stolen. Palestinian villagers claim it was triggered by settlers stoning Palestinian cars. |