Palestinian minister dies after being tear gassed and hit in the chest with a rifle butt by an Israeli soldier at West Bank protest Wednesday Dec 10,2014

Ziad Abu Ain,the Palestinian Minister dies after being tear gassed and hit in the chest with a rifle butt by an Israeli soldier at West Bank protest on Wednesday Dec 10,2014

The incident began with a march by several dozen Palestinians who headed to agricultural land near the village of Turmus Aya to plant olive tree saplings

Israel and the Palestinians were on the brink again today after a Fatah cabinet minister died shortly after an altercation with the Israeli military during a West Bank protest.

Ziad Abu Ain was hit in the chest with a rifle butt and grabbed by soldiers, who also fired tear gas at the demonstrators, witnesses said.

 

 

Shortly after the attack, the 55-year-old minister without portfolio began to look faint and fell to the ground clasping his chest, according to people at the scene. He died on the way to hospital.

Ziad Abu Ain's death was condemned by Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, who described the attack as 'a barbaric act which we cannot be silent about or accept.' 

Announcing three days of national mourning, the Palestinian leader added that he would take 'necessary steps' after an investigation.

The Israeli military said it is looking into the incident and had no immediate comment, while the Arabic language spokesman for the country's prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, said the circumstances leading to the death of the minister were being investigated.