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Tensions grow as Palestinians mourn
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THOUSANDS of Palestinians gathered yesterday to mourn a senior official who died in a confrontation with Israeli troops, as the army sent reinforcements to the West Bank and braced for unrest.
The Palestinian leadership blamed Israel for the “killing” of 55-year-old Ziad Abu Ein, as tensions threatened to boil over into another round of violence in the occupied territories.
Officials and onlookers streamed into the Ramallah headquarters of president Mahmud Abbas ahead of a planned funeral procession to a nearby cemetery.
Uniformed Palestinians carried Abu Ein’s coffin, draped in a Palestinian flag, into the courtyard, as mourners chanted “Revenge!” and “Your blood will not be spilled in vain!”
Schools were closed in a day of mourning and posters of Abu Ein were plastered on walls throughout the West Bank city.
A short distance away, additional Israeli troops and border guards were being deployed in anticipation of clashes with mourners and protesters, an army spokeswoman said.
Abu Ein died Wednesday after a confrontation with Israeli soldiers during a protest march against settlements by some 300 Palestinians who intended to plant olive trees as a symbolic act.
Troops fired tear gas, three soldiers grabbed Abu Ein and he was struck in the chest during the confrontation. Videos circulating online showed the soldiers pushing Abu Ein in the chest and neck.
He collapsed and was treated by an Israeli army doctor, but died later in hospital.
“After hearing the results of the post-mortem, the Palestinian government holds Israel fully responsible for the killing of Ziad Abu Ein,” government spokesman Ihab Bseiso said yesterday.
“The reason for the death of Abu Ein was his being hit by (Israeli) occupation troops and because of the heavy use of tear gas,” Palestinian civil affairs minister Hussein al-Sheikh said.
Israel’s health ministry said the death was caused by a “blockage of the coronary artery” which “could have been caused by stress.”
Abbas threatened measures in response, amid speculation that security cooperation with Israel could be shelved.
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