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P.A. Blames Israel for Minister's Death

CBN

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JERUSALEM, Israel -- The Palestinian Authority is blaming Israel for the death of a cabinet member, saying he died after being hit by a tear gas canister fired by Israeli troops.

The Israel Defense Forces initially told CBN News it's investigating the incident, later releasing the following statement:

"Earlier today, approximately 200 rioters gathered in Turmus Ayya, near Ramallah. Forces halted the progress of the rioters into the civilian community of Adei-Ad using riot dispersal means. The IDF is reviewing the circumstances of the participation of Ziad Abu Ein, and his later death.

Arab sources told AFP that Ziad Abu Ein, a minister without portfolio, died en route to the hospital after being beaten by Israeli security forces during a protest in Turmus Avya near Ramallah against Israeli "land confiscations" in Judea and Samaria (the West Bank).

Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas said a "brutal assault…led to the martyrdom" of Abu Ein and called for three days of mourning, the P.A.'s semi-official WAFA news agency reported.

The IDF said it's cooperating with its Palestinian counterpart to determine Abu Ein's cause of death in the statement.

"The coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories, Maj. Gen. Yoav (Poli) Mordechai, and his Palestinian counterpart, Hussein Al-Sheikh, have agreed that an Israeli pathologist will join a delegation of pathologists from Jordan for a joint examination of the circumstances of Ziad Abu Ein's death.

Additionally, a proposal has been made to the Palestinians to establish a joint investigation team to review the incident," the IDF Spokesman's Office added.

Initial reports indicate he died of a heart attack.

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