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Palestinian Official Dies During Demonstration in West Bank Calls for Calm After Palestinian Official Dies During Protest in the West Bank
(about 4 hours later)
JERUSALEM — A prominent Palestinian official with the Fatah faction died on Wednesday after inhaling tear gas and being shoved and struck in the chest by a member of the Israeli security forces during a demonstration in a West Bank village, witnesses said. JERUSALEM — A prominent Palestinian official with the Fatah faction died on Wednesday after inhaling tear gas and being shoved and struck in the chest by a member of the Israeli security forces during a demonstration in a West Bank village, witnesses said.
The Israeli military said it was reviewing the circumstances leading up to the death of the official, Ziad Abu Ein, 55, who held the rank of minister in the Palestinian Authority although he was not formally a member of the cabinet.The Israeli military said it was reviewing the circumstances leading up to the death of the official, Ziad Abu Ein, 55, who held the rank of minister in the Palestinian Authority although he was not formally a member of the cabinet.
The event threatened to grow into a crisis between Israel and the Western-backed Palestinian Authority amid calls for a halt in security coordination between the two sides from some Palestinian Authority officials, Hamas and other opponents of the policy, which is unpopular with many Palestinians. In the absence of peace talks, security coordination has been the foundation of relations between Israel and the Palestinian Authority. The episode threatened to grow into a crisis between Israel and the Western-backed Palestinian Authority amid calls for a halt in security coordination between the two sides from some Palestinian Authority officials, Hamas and other opponents of the policy, which is unpopular with many Palestinians. In the absence of peace talks, security coordination has been the foundation of relations between Israel and the Palestinian Authority.
In an apparent effort to calm the atmosphere, Israeli and Palestinian officials agreed that an Israeli pathologist and a delegation of pathologists from Jordan would examine the circumstances of Mr. Abu Ein’s death, the Israeli military said. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel sent a message to the Palestinian Authority pledging to investigate the event, which was captured on video, and calling for calm.In an apparent effort to calm the atmosphere, Israeli and Palestinian officials agreed that an Israeli pathologist and a delegation of pathologists from Jordan would examine the circumstances of Mr. Abu Ein’s death, the Israeli military said. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel sent a message to the Palestinian Authority pledging to investigate the event, which was captured on video, and calling for calm.
Images from the scene showed a member of the security forces shoving Mr. Abu Ein while grabbing him roughly by the neck. Palestinian activists began sharing an image from that video on social networks, referencing images of police force in the United States associated with the hashtag #ICantBreathe.Images from the scene showed a member of the security forces shoving Mr. Abu Ein while grabbing him roughly by the neck. Palestinian activists began sharing an image from that video on social networks, referencing images of police force in the United States associated with the hashtag #ICantBreathe.
A correspondent for Sky News tweeted that Israeli medics tried to assist Mr. Abu Ein after he fell unconscious but that Palestinians rushed him to a vehicle instead. He was first taken to a clinic in Turmus Aya and then to the Palestine Medical Complex in Ramallah. Dr. Sameer Saliba said that Mr. Abu Ein was dead by the time he arrived there in an ambulance. He could not immediately specify the cause of death. A correspondent for Sky News said in a Twitter message that Israeli medics had tried to assist Mr. Abu Ein after he fell unconscious but that Palestinians rushed him to a vehicle instead. He was first taken to a clinic in Turmus Aya and then to the Palestine Medical Complex in Ramallah. Dr. Sameer Saliba said that Mr. Abu Ein was dead by the time he arrived there in an ambulance. He could not immediately specify the cause of death.
Mr. Abu Ein’s family said he had diabetes and high blood pressure, according to the Israeli newspaper Haaretz. His body was being transferred from the hospital in Ramallah for an autopsy at a Palestinian forensics institute.Mr. Abu Ein’s family said he had diabetes and high blood pressure, according to the Israeli newspaper Haaretz. His body was being transferred from the hospital in Ramallah for an autopsy at a Palestinian forensics institute.
"What happened today is an intolerable crime in every sense of the word,” President Mahmoud Abbas of the Palestinian Authority said at a Palestinian leadership meeting on Wednesday. “All options are open for examination, discussion and application." “What happened today is an intolerable crime in every sense of the word,” President Mahmoud Abbas of the Palestinian Authority said at a Palestinian leadership meeting on Wednesday. “All options are open for examination, discussion and application.”
Mr. Abu Ein was a member of Fatah’s Revolutionary Council, the party’s parliament, and was in charge of the portfolio for the struggle against the Israeli West Bank barrier and the settlements, a role equivalent to the rank of a minister in the Palestinian Authority government, according to Palestinian officials. Mr. Abu Ein was a member of Fatah’s Revolutionary Council and was in charge of the portfolio for the struggle against the Israeli West Bank barrier and the settlements, a role equivalent to the rank of a minister in the Palestinian Authority government, according to Palestinian officials.
In the hours after the protest, clashes broke out at the entrance of Turmus Aya between Palestinian protesters and Israeli forces.In the hours after the protest, clashes broke out at the entrance of Turmus Aya between Palestinian protesters and Israeli forces.
Mr. Abu Ein and other activists had set out to plant olive trees on land that Palestinians said was threatened by an Israeli settlement outpost, near the villages of Al-Mughayer and Turmus Aya in the Ramallah district of the West Bank. The protest was timed to mark International Human Rights Day. They were joined by activists from Yesh Din, an Israeli human rights group that has petitioned the Israeli Supreme Court for the removal of the unauthorized outpost, Adei Ad.Mr. Abu Ein and other activists had set out to plant olive trees on land that Palestinians said was threatened by an Israeli settlement outpost, near the villages of Al-Mughayer and Turmus Aya in the Ramallah district of the West Bank. The protest was timed to mark International Human Rights Day. They were joined by activists from Yesh Din, an Israeli human rights group that has petitioned the Israeli Supreme Court for the removal of the unauthorized outpost, Adei Ad.
Abla Kook, 49, a member of the Turmus Aya village council who attended the demonstration, said about 150 people were attempting to march near the outpost but that soldiers prevented them from getting close and began to fire tear gas.Abla Kook, 49, a member of the Turmus Aya village council who attended the demonstration, said about 150 people were attempting to march near the outpost but that soldiers prevented them from getting close and began to fire tear gas.
Ms. Kook said that Mr. Abu Ein had argued with the Israeli troops who would not let him pass. One of the Israeli soldiers, wearing a helmet, head-butted Mr. Abu Ein in the chest, Ms. Kook said.Ms. Kook said that Mr. Abu Ein had argued with the Israeli troops who would not let him pass. One of the Israeli soldiers, wearing a helmet, head-butted Mr. Abu Ein in the chest, Ms. Kook said.
Other witnesses said Mr. Abu Ein had been shoved and struck with a rifle butt.Other witnesses said Mr. Abu Ein had been shoved and struck with a rifle butt.
The Palestinian media service Palmedia News showed video of demonstrators holding flags and olive branches as they marched through clouds of tear gas. Mr. Abu Ein spoke to television reporters shortly before he collapsed. “This is a criminal army,” he said. “It practices crimes against our land. We did not throw a single stone at them and they attacked us.”The Palestinian media service Palmedia News showed video of demonstrators holding flags and olive branches as they marched through clouds of tear gas. Mr. Abu Ein spoke to television reporters shortly before he collapsed. “This is a criminal army,” he said. “It practices crimes against our land. We did not throw a single stone at them and they attacked us.”
The Israeli military described the protesters as “rioters” and said its forces “halted the progress of the rioters into the civilian community of Adei Ad using riot dispersal means.” Both Israeli soldiers and border police officers were at the scene.The Israeli military described the protesters as “rioters” and said its forces “halted the progress of the rioters into the civilian community of Adei Ad using riot dispersal means.” Both Israeli soldiers and border police officers were at the scene.
Saeb Erekat, a member of the Palestine Liberation Organization’s executive committee, said in a statement, “The Israel government bears full responsibility for the killing of Minister Abu Ein and the systematic crimes committed against the Palestinian people.”Saeb Erekat, a member of the Palestine Liberation Organization’s executive committee, said in a statement, “The Israel government bears full responsibility for the killing of Minister Abu Ein and the systematic crimes committed against the Palestinian people.”
The Israeli defense minister, Moshe Yaalon, expressed sorrow over Mr. Abu Ein’s death and said in a statement that the government would continue to coordinate with the Palestinian Authority.The Israeli defense minister, Moshe Yaalon, expressed sorrow over Mr. Abu Ein’s death and said in a statement that the government would continue to coordinate with the Palestinian Authority.
Reut Mor, of Yesh Din, who participated in the protest, said it was meant to consist of a “quiet march and a news conference.” The security forces began firing tear gas and stun grenades, she said, speaking by telephone after the event. The activists at the front of the march, including Mr. Abu Ein, walked up to the line of soldiers to confront them and there was shouting and scuffling, she said.Reut Mor, of Yesh Din, who participated in the protest, said it was meant to consist of a “quiet march and a news conference.” The security forces began firing tear gas and stun grenades, she said, speaking by telephone after the event. The activists at the front of the march, including Mr. Abu Ein, walked up to the line of soldiers to confront them and there was shouting and scuffling, she said.
“Nobody imagined the day would end that way,” Ms. Mor said.“Nobody imagined the day would end that way,” Ms. Mor said.
Mr. Abu Ein, who had spent many years in Israeli jails, had previously served as a deputy minister for prisoner affairs in the Palestinian Authority government.Mr. Abu Ein, who had spent many years in Israeli jails, had previously served as a deputy minister for prisoner affairs in the Palestinian Authority government.
He was first arrested in 1977, at the age of 18. Two years later he was charged with membership in a squad that planted a bomb in the northern Israeli city of Tiberias that killed an Israeli teenager. He was extradited from the United States to Israel in 1981 and was sentenced to life in prison, but he was released as part of a prisoner exchange deal in 1985. He subsequently spent several more years in prison as an administrative detainee, held without trial.He was first arrested in 1977, at the age of 18. Two years later he was charged with membership in a squad that planted a bomb in the northern Israeli city of Tiberias that killed an Israeli teenager. He was extradited from the United States to Israel in 1981 and was sentenced to life in prison, but he was released as part of a prisoner exchange deal in 1985. He subsequently spent several more years in prison as an administrative detainee, held without trial.