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12/22/2024 06:59:38 pm

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West Bank Clash With Israeli Troops Results To Death Of Palestinian Cabinet Member

Palestinian minister Ziad Abu Ain

(Photo : REUTERS/Mohamad Torokman) Palestinian minister Ziad Abu Ain (L) scuffles with an Israeli border policeman near the West Bank city of Ramallah, December 10, 2014.

A Palestinian Cabinet member died on Wednesday after a brawl with Israeli troops during a protest at the West Bank, with images captured showing an Israeli officer grabbing the cabinet member by the throat before he collapsed to his death.

The photo has stirred anger among the Palestinians and has heightened the already strained relationship with Israel. The 55-year-old Cabinet member identified as Ziad Abu Ain will still undergo autopsy in order to determine what killed him. However, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas has called the incident a clear crime and a barbaric act in reference to the Israeli officer.

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The photo has also sparked for a call on Abbas to suspend Palestine's security coordination with Israel. The security coordination between the two has already been a foundation on the relationship between the two countries since peace talks are not always available.

Abbas is yet to announce his decision as he recently met with officials from the Fatah movement and the Palestine Liberation Organization. The session was held late Wednesday and during the meeting, he held up a photo of the Israeli officer grabbing Abu Ain.

The photo has circulated on different social media accounts with the hashtag #ICantBreathe. Witnesses say aside from Abu Ain being grabbed by the throat, another soldier pushed a rifle's butt towards his chest.

According to Israeli's Defense Minister, Moshe Yaalon, the military is ready to investigate on the incident with the presence of the Palestinian officials and an Israeli pathologist will be attending the autopsy together with Palestinian doctors.

Also, the Israeli military will be sending two battalions of soldiers and two more companies of paramilitary border police to the West Bank for back up and reinforcement.

Abu Ain has led this group of Palestinians towards and unauthorized Israeli settlement outpost called Adei-ad where they planned to plant olive tree saplings on the land belonging to one of the villagers who has not been allowed to reach his property by Israeli troops.

The marchers were then blocked and were fired with tear gas and stun grenades leading to a brawl and shouting between the marchers and the troops.

"We came to our Palestinian land to plant some olive trees and they attacked us immediately," Abu Ain told reporters. "No one threw a stone or attacked them, but this terrorist army is attacking us."

United Nation's General Secretary Ban Ki Moon and the EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini also urged limitations between the two countries despite knowledge of the further deteriorating relationship between the two countries.

The United States commented on the West Bank situation, saying the process of investigation should be swift, fair and transparent. Washington also called on Israel and Palestine to lower the tensions and prevent any escalations at this difficult time.

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