This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-30411523

The article has changed 14 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 3 Version 4
Palestinian minister dies at West Bank protest Palestinian minister dies at West Bank protest
(35 minutes later)
A Palestinian minister has died after a confrontation with Israeli troops at a protest in the West Bank.A Palestinian minister has died after a confrontation with Israeli troops at a protest in the West Bank.
Palestinian medics told the BBC that Ziad Abu Ein had died as a result of inhaling tear gas during the incident near the village of Turmusaya. Palestinian medics told the BBC Ziad Abu Ein died from complications related to exposure to tear gas during the incident near the village of Turmusaya.
But several witnesses said the minister had been hit and shoved by soldiers. One said he had been hit in the chest by a tear-gas canister fired by them.But several witnesses said the minister had been hit and shoved by soldiers. One said he had been hit in the chest by a tear-gas canister fired by them.
The Israeli military said it was looking into the reports.The Israeli military said it was looking into the reports.
The incident comes at a time of rising tensions between in the region. In recent weeks, 10 Israelis and an Ecuadorean have been killed by Palestinians in a series of attacks. Thirteen Palestinians have also been killed, among them several of the assailants.
In recent weeks, 11 Israelis were killed by Palestinians, including five stabbed and shot at a synagogue in Jerusalem. Thirteen Palestinians were also killed, among them several assailants.
'Barbaric act''Barbaric act'
Mr Abu Ein, a minister without portfolio, was among dozens of foreign and Palestinian activists who took part in a protest on Tuesday morning against land confiscations organised by the government-run Committee to Resist Settlements and the Wall. Mr Abu Ein, a minister without portfolio, was among dozens of foreign and Palestinian activists who took part in a protest on Tuesday morning against land confiscations organised by a Palestinian government committee.
They had planned to plant olive tree saplings on a patch of land near the Jewish settlement of Shiloh, which Palestinians believe has been earmarked for annexation by Israel.They had planned to plant olive tree saplings on a patch of land near the Jewish settlement of Shiloh, which Palestinians believe has been earmarked for annexation by Israel.
In the course of the protest, they came into confrontation with a group of about 15 Israeli soldiers.In the course of the protest, they came into confrontation with a group of about 15 Israeli soldiers.
Mahmoud Aloul, a leading member of Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas's Fatah movement, told the Associated Press the soldiers had fired tear gas at the protesters and had beaten some of them with rifle butts. Leading Palestinian activist Mahmoud Aloul, who was also at the protest, told the Associated Press the soldiers had fired tear gas at the activists and had beaten some of them with rifle butts.
At one point, Mr Abu Ein was hit by a tear gas canister, Mr Aloul said.At one point, Mr Abu Ein was hit by a tear gas canister, Mr Aloul said.
The Reuters photographer said he had seen Mr Abu Ein being struck by a hand to the neck during an altercation with two of the soldiers. An AFP news agency photographer said the minister had been hit in the chest.The Reuters photographer said he had seen Mr Abu Ein being struck by a hand to the neck during an altercation with two of the soldiers. An AFP news agency photographer said the minister had been hit in the chest.
Photos of the incident showed Mr Abu Ein lying unconscious before he was removed from the scene in an ambulance. He died before reaching hospital in the nearby city of Ramallah.Photos of the incident showed Mr Abu Ein lying unconscious before he was removed from the scene in an ambulance. He died before reaching hospital in the nearby city of Ramallah.
The director of the Ramallah hospital told the AFP news agency that Mr Abu Ein had been "martyred after being beaten in the chest". Palestinian medics told the BBC that the minister had died from complications related to exposure to tear gas, but the director of the Ramallah hospital told the AFP news agency that Mr Abu Ein had been "martyred after being beaten in the chest".
There are reports that Mr Abu Ein had a health condition that may have contributed to his death.There are reports that Mr Abu Ein had a health condition that may have contributed to his death.
The BBC's Kevin Connolly in Jerusalem says Palestinians are likely to see the exact cause of death as a secondary issue, and it will serve to sharpen political tensions.The BBC's Kevin Connolly in Jerusalem says Palestinians are likely to see the exact cause of death as a secondary issue, and it will serve to sharpen political tensions.
President Abbas condemned "the brutal assault" that led to Mr Abu Ein's "martyrdom", calling it a "barbaric act that cannot be tolerated or accepted". Condemning "the brutal assault" on Mr Abu Ein as a "barbaric act that cannot be tolerated or accepted", Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas promised to take unspecified measures and declared three days of mourning.
"We will take the necessary measures after the results of the investigation into the incident," he added.
A senior Palestinian official said the Palestinian Authority would halt security co-ordination with Israel.A senior Palestinian official said the Palestinian Authority would halt security co-ordination with Israel.
Mr Abu Ein once received the death sentence, commuted to life imprisonment, from a court in Israel for a 1979 bombing that killed two Israeli teenagers.
He was released in 1985 as part of a prisoner exchange that saw the release of three Israeli soldiers captured in Lebanon.