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THE Palestinian Authority announced three days of national mourning today after a Palestinian cabinet member was killed by Israeli troops during a West Bank protest.
Witnesses said Israeli troops fired tear gas at Ziad Abu Ain and about 100 supporters engaged in a ceremonial olive tree planting.
They said that 55-year-old Mr Abu Ain had been beaten by an Israeli soldier.
The Israeli military said it is looking into the incident.
“The Israel government bears full responsibility for the killing of minister Abu Ain and the systematic crimes committed against the Palestinian people,” said Saeb Erekat, chief Palestinian peace negotiator and a senior aide to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas.
“This new assassination will have severe consequences.”
The events began with a march by Palestinians from the West Bank village of Turmus Aya and international supporters to villagers’ land close to a nearby Israeli settlement to plant olive tree saplings.
As the marchers walked toward the land, Israeli soldiers fired tear gas and stun grenades at the Palestinians, said Kamal Abu Sassaka, an assistant to Mr Abu Ain who
said he was by the cabinet member’s side the entire time.
Mr Abu Ain told an Israeli officer that this was a peaceful protest, but was told that the group could not proceed, he said.
There was pushing and shoving between marchers and troops and the soldiers fired tear gas toward the legs of the Palestinians.
Mr Abu Sassaka said one soldier headbutted the minister and hit him in the chest with his rifle stock, an account confirmed by other witnesses.
An initial report that Mr Abu Ain was hit by a tear gas canister could not be confirmed.
Footage aired on satellite news channel Al-Hadath showed Mr Abu Ain, pale-faced, crumple to the ground after the clash, holding his chest.
He was given first aid before being taken to the village clinic and from there by ambulance to Ramallah Hospital, but died en route.
He headed a Palestinian Authority department dealing with Israeli settlements and the Israeli apartheid wall.
He had previously served as deputy minister for prisoner affairs.
