A Palestinian minister died on Wednesday shortly after a face off with Israeli border police in the West Bank during which one of the policeman grabbed him by the neck. Reuters report:
Ziad Abu Ein, 55, a minister without portfolio, was taking part in a protest against Israeli settlements when he was involved in clashes with about 30 Israeli troops and border police, a Reuters witness said.
Abu Ein was confronted by a border policemen who grasped him by the neck and briefly held him with one hand. Minutes later the minister began to look faint and fell to the ground clasping his chest. He died on his way to hospital.
It was not clear what caused his death.
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas described the attack as “a barbaric act which we cannot be silent about or accept.” Abbas announced three days of national mourning and said he would take “necessary steps” after an investigation.
The Israeli army said it was looking into the incident. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s Arabic language spokesman said the circumstances leading to the death of the minister were being investigated.
The incident comes at a time of heightened tension between Israel and the Palestinians, following months of violent unrest in Jerusalem, Tel Aviv and the Israeli-occupied West Bank.
