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Senior Palestinian official dies after clash with Israeli forces in West Bank Senior Palestinian official dies after clash with Israeli forces in West Bank
(35 minutes later)
RAMALLAH, West Bank — A Palestinian cabinet member in charge of opposing Jewish settlements died Wednesday after a confrontation with Israeli forces at a protest march in the West Bank, officials said, touching off outrage from the Palestinian leadership and an appeal by a U.N. envoy for a full Israeli probe.RAMALLAH, West Bank — A Palestinian cabinet member in charge of opposing Jewish settlements died Wednesday after a confrontation with Israeli forces at a protest march in the West Bank, officials said, touching off outrage from the Palestinian leadership and an appeal by a U.N. envoy for a full Israeli probe.
The death of Ziad Abu Ein sharpened tensions after a recent wave of terrorist attacks and clashes set in motion by showdowns over a contested holy site in Jerusalem. The death of Ziad Abu Ein also sharpened tensions after a recent wave of terrorist attacks and clashes set in motion by showdowns over a contested holy site in Jerusalem.
The full details of the incident were not immediately clear. Some witnesses said Abu Ein was hit by a tear gas canister. Other reports said he was struck by an Israeli soldier’s rifle butt. The full details of the incident were not immediately clear.
Some witnesses said Israeli forces fired tear gas near the demonstrators, suggesting Abu Ein could have been hit by a canister. Other reports quoted witnesses saying he was struck by an Israeli soldier’s rifle butt.
Video clips posted by Sky News Arabia showed an Israeli soldier apparently holding the 55-year-old Abu Ein near his neck. The clip then shows Abu Ein on the ground and clutching his chest behind a row of Israeli soldiers facing off against protesters near the West Bank village of Turmus Aya, where the march was held to protest land seizures.Video clips posted by Sky News Arabia showed an Israeli soldier apparently holding the 55-year-old Abu Ein near his neck. The clip then shows Abu Ein on the ground and clutching his chest behind a row of Israeli soldiers facing off against protesters near the West Bank village of Turmus Aya, where the march was held to protest land seizures.
He died after being taken for medical treatment.He died after being taken for medical treatment.
A reporter for Israel’s Channel 10, Roy Sharon, posted a Twitter message saying he did not see Abu Ein struck by the butt of a rifle and, if the gun did hit him, it was not on purpose or significant. Sharon said he was standing near Abu Ein, who was appointed last year to lead opposition to Israeli settlements and the barrier separating Israel from the West Bank. A reporter for Israel’s Channel 10, Roy Sharon, posted a Twitter message saying he did not see Abu Ein struck by the butt of a rifle and, if a gun did hit him, it was not on purpose or significant. Sharon said he was standing near Abu Ein, who was appointed last year to lead opposition to Israeli settlements and the barrier separating Israel from the West Bank.
The Israeli military said it was investigating. An Israeli ministry statement said its “forces had attempted to halt the progress of the rioters” toward a nearby Israeli outpost by “using riot dispersal means.”The Israeli military said it was investigating. An Israeli ministry statement said its “forces had attempted to halt the progress of the rioters” toward a nearby Israeli outpost by “using riot dispersal means.”
Reut Mor, a spokesperson for Yesh Din, an Israeli human rights organization that was involved in organizing the march, said that roughly 100 villagers had been making their way with flags and olive trees. The march coincided with the International Human Rights Day. Reut Mor, a spokesperson for Yesh Din, an Israeli human rights organization that was involved in organizing the march, said that roughly 100 villagers had been making their way with flags and olive trees. The march coincided with the International Human Rights Day. The Israeli military placed the number of marchers at about 200.
Palestinians frequently stage protests against Israeli settlements and unauthorized Jewish outposts in the West Bank, whose construction has continued despite objections from Washington and Israel’s allies in Europe. “It was a quiet march, there was no violence, no stones, people were holding flags and olive trees when suddenly the protesters met almost as many soldiers,” said Mor. “They stood in front of us and started shooting tear gas and stun grenades even though there were no violence from our side.”
“It was a quiet march, there was no violence, no stones, people were holding flags and olive trees when suddenly the protesters met almost as many soldiers. They stood in front of us and started shooting tear gas and stun grenades even though there were no violence from our side,” said Mor. Palestinians frequently stage protests against Israeli settlements and unauthorized Jewish outposts in the West Bank, whose construction has continued despite objections from Washington and Israel’s allies in Europe. In comments broadcast Wednesday, Israel’s defense minister, Moshe Yaalon, predicted settlement construction should pick up in the future because the Obama administration “won’t be around forever.”
According to witnesses, one soldier took his gun and hit Abu Ein in the chest, causing him to collapse. He was conscious was he left for the hospital, said Mor.
The AP quoted other witnesses saying Abu Ein was hit by a tear gas canister fired by Israeli forces.
Palestinian leaders warned of major blows to already fraying relations with Israel.Palestinian leaders warned of major blows to already fraying relations with Israel.
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas called it a “barbaric act” and called for a three-day mourning period. Hanna Ashrawi, a senior Palestinian official, demanded an “independent, neutral” investigation.Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas called it a “barbaric act” and called for a three-day mourning period. Hanna Ashrawi, a senior Palestinian official, demanded an “independent, neutral” investigation.
“Ziad was guilty of nothing more insidious than planting olive trees on Palestinian land that Israel was attempting to steal,” she said in a statement.“Ziad was guilty of nothing more insidious than planting olive trees on Palestinian land that Israel was attempting to steal,” she said in a statement.
Israeli media reported that Hamas, the militant Palestinian group that rules the Gaza Strip, called on the Abbas’s Fatah movement and the Palestinian Authority to cancel all security coordination with Israel.Israeli media reported that Hamas, the militant Palestinian group that rules the Gaza Strip, called on the Abbas’s Fatah movement and the Palestinian Authority to cancel all security coordination with Israel.
“The Israel government bears full responsibility for the killing of minister Abu Ein and the systematic crimes committed against the Palestinian people,” said Saeb Erekat, the chief Palestinian peace negotiator. “This new assassination will have severe consequences.”“The Israel government bears full responsibility for the killing of minister Abu Ein and the systematic crimes committed against the Palestinian people,” said Saeb Erekat, the chief Palestinian peace negotiator. “This new assassination will have severe consequences.”
Palestinian officials said an autopsy would be performed to determine the cause of death. Abu Ein, who formerly served as the Palestinian Authority’s deputy minister of prisoners’ affairs, also suffered from diabetes and high blood pressure, his family said.Palestinian officials said an autopsy would be performed to determine the cause of death. Abu Ein, who formerly served as the Palestinian Authority’s deputy minister of prisoners’ affairs, also suffered from diabetes and high blood pressure, his family said.
The U.N. special coordinator for the Middle East peace process, Robert Serry, said he was deeply saddened by the minister’s death and urged Israeli authorities to conduct a “prompt, thorough and transparent investigation into the circumstance of his death.”The U.N. special coordinator for the Middle East peace process, Robert Serry, said he was deeply saddened by the minister’s death and urged Israeli authorities to conduct a “prompt, thorough and transparent investigation into the circumstance of his death.”
Israeli reports said Abu Ein was a member of Fatah’s Revolutionary Council, which is also known as the Abu Nidal Organization, which carried out a string of terror attacks in the 1980s.Israeli reports said Abu Ein was a member of Fatah’s Revolutionary Council, which is also known as the Abu Nidal Organization, which carried out a string of terror attacks in the 1980s.
It remains on the State Department’s official list of foreign terrorist organizations, although it is thought to be largely inactive at present.It remains on the State Department’s official list of foreign terrorist organizations, although it is thought to be largely inactive at present.
Abu Ein himself was handed a life sentence in Israel in 1982 after being extradited from the United States over the murder of two Israelis in Tiberias in 1979. He was released in a prisoner swap in 1985.Abu Ein himself was handed a life sentence in Israel in 1982 after being extradited from the United States over the murder of two Israelis in Tiberias in 1979. He was released in a prisoner swap in 1985.
During the second Palestinian uprising in 2002, he spent a year in detention without charges filed, the Associated Press reported.
In recent months, tensions have been running high in the region since last summer’s 50-day war between Israel and Hamas in Gaza and over continuing disputes stemming from access to an area known as the Temple Mount to Jews and the Noble Sanctuary to Muslim — an area holy to both faiths.In recent months, tensions have been running high in the region since last summer’s 50-day war between Israel and Hamas in Gaza and over continuing disputes stemming from access to an area known as the Temple Mount to Jews and the Noble Sanctuary to Muslim — an area holy to both faiths.
A series of clashes and bloodshed followed, including a Palestinian attack last month that left five people dead at a Jerusalem synagogue, including three American-born Israelis.A series of clashes and bloodshed followed, including a Palestinian attack last month that left five people dead at a Jerusalem synagogue, including three American-born Israelis.
Eglash reported from Jerusalem and Murphy from Washington.Eglash reported from Jerusalem and Murphy from Washington.