Palestinian minister dies at WBank Protest

**alhoon** · December 10, 2014, 10:07 AM

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-30411523

The gist: A Palestinian minister died after exposure to tear gas used by Israelis against protesters in the occupied West Bank. Several witnesses say that the minister was also hit and shoved by the soldiers. A reuters photographer mentioned that the minister has been hit with by a soldier's hand to the neck during the confrontation.

As far as I can see from the article, the protest was peaceful. The protestors planned to plant olive saplings on a parcel of land that they believe it will be confiscated by Israel.

With 10 Israelis killed by Palestinians and 13 Palestinians killed by Israelis, this new act of violence, in what seems to be a peaceful protest won't help a peace deal.

**hellheaven1987** · December 10, 2014, 10:09 AM

Come on, there is a street war in Eastern Jerusalem for months which kill more people yet no one cares about it, you think people care about one more Palestinian got killed?

**The Despondent Mind** · December 10, 2014, 10:20 AM

I wish Iran gets their nuclear weapon and nukes Israelis&Palestinians into oblivion so they can squabble and argue their, my entire life I've been listening Israelis that, Palestinians that, I'm sick of it...

**Sharukinu** · December 10, 2014, 07:29 PM

Originally Posted by The Despondent Mind

I wish Iran gets their nuclear weapon and nukes Israelis&Palestinians into oblivion so they can squabble and argue their, my entire life I've been listening Israelis that, Palestinians that, I'm sick of it...

And I thought I was the only person who was fed up with their squabbles.

**sumskilz** · December 10, 2014, 10:43 AM

A video aired Wednesday documenting the events earlier today in the West Bank town of Turmus Ayya ostensibly assists in shedding light on the incident in which a Palestinian Cabinet member, Ziad Abu Ein, died shortly after he and other protesters scuffled with Israeli troops. However, it offers only a partial glimpse of the events that led to his death. It is evident that the video was edited; some of the recorded parts were omitted and in no point can Abu Ein's collapse be clearly linked with his confrontation with the security forces...

Video from the incident shows Abu Ein sat on the ground after the clash, holding his chest – however, the reason why is still unclear. Palestinians claim that he had inhaled tear gas. The video is then cut off and footage from moments before his collapse are shown, in which Abu Ein gets up and walks towards an IDF jeep, where a confrontation develops between him and one of the soldiers.

Abu Ein is later heard shouting in Arabic, "this is a terrorist army", while an officer tells his soldiers that the protestors are allowed to shout, but not curse or raise a hand at them. Abu Ein is then heard shouting, "these are the crimes of the occupation and the settlements, the logic of the soldiers is barbaric."

At this point the video is again cut off and the soldiers are shown throwing stun grenades that explode, causing the Palestinians to step back. Abu Ein is not filmed in these moments. Later he is shown while giving an interview, clutching his chest. He struggles to talk, but says that "the IDF is a terrorist army that commits terrorist acts against the Palestinian people's rights. We came to Palestinian land to plant olive trees and they have been acting with aggression from the start. No one threw stones."

There is then another break in the video and Abu Ein is shown to be carried by several men, while it is unclear if he was conscious at the time.

Abu Ein, who suffered from medical problems, served in the previous government as Palestinian deputy minister of prisoner affairs. He is a prominent figure in the Palestinian society and is well known in Israeli circles.

http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7...602043,00.html

EDIT:

The Palestinian Authority has decided to halt all security coordination with Israel following the death of senior Fatah official Ziad Abu Ein, a top Palestinian Authority official told The Times of Israel on Wednesday, as militant Palestinian factions called for armed resistance.

http://www.timesofisrael.com/securit...cials-killing/

**Caligula's_Horse** · December 10, 2014, 11:42 AM

The guy died of a heart attack. He wasn't exactly a young man, and protests are a stressful environment. The footage shows as much.

Not that its likely to convince any Palestinian though. Hell, they're still dead certain a bus driver that hung himself a few weeks ago was the result of an Israeli plot, because apparently the Shin Bet doesn't have better things to do then conspire against Palestinian bus drivers.

**alhoon** · December 10, 2014, 12:06 PM

So, you think that teargas, punches on the neck and all had nothing to do with his death?

**sumskilz** · December 10, 2014, 12:22 PM

Originally Posted by alhoon

So, you think that teargas, punches on the neck and all had nothing to do with his death?

Do you see punches to the neck? I can't really tell, but doesn't look like much of a physical confrontation to me. Looks like Abu Ein might have shoved first, but I can't tell that for certain either.

**Caligula's_Horse** · December 10, 2014, 12:25 PM

Originally Posted by alhoon

So, you think that teargas, punches on the neck and all had nothing to do with his death?

Look at the video if you don't believe me, the version the BBC didn't chop up to hide the section where he sits on the ground and grabs at his arm and chest.
http://www.ynet.co.il/articles/0,7340,L-4601992,00.html
Clearly a heart attack.

I have martial arts training, and can tell you from experience that the heart isn't targeted in fights. Its just not very susceptible to beatings, even less so if the blows land on the neck.
As for teargas, I've had the dubious pleasure of inhaling the stuff in a closed room, more then once. IDF combat soldiers have to go through it every couple of months, to get an idea for how safe it is. Unpleasant to be sure, but it does no real damage.

I'd also like to add that now that I've read some articles about it, I'm actually glad he's dead. Turns out he was in an Israeli prison for murder of some teenagers via IED before being let out in a prisoner exchange in 1985. I still don't think his death was intentional, but either way, good riddance.

**alhoon** · December 10, 2014, 06:26 PM

Originally Posted by Caligula's_Horse

Look at the video if you don't believe me, the version the BBC didn't chop up to hide the section where he sits on the ground and grabs at his arm and chest.
http://www.ynet.co.il/articles/0,7340,L-4601992,00.html
Clearly a heart attack.

From the source:
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-30411523

"But several witnesses said the minister had been hit and shoved by soldiers. One said he had been hit in the chest by a tear-gas canister fired by them."
and
"A Reuters photographer said he had seen Mr Abu Ein being struck by a hand on the neck during an altercation with two soldiers."

A heart attack? Perhaps. But do you really believe that being shoved around inhaling teargas and all had nothing to do with his death by heart attack, even if it was that?

To get back on how it would affect the peace, I don't find it surprising that after a minister died in a peaceful protest, the Palestinians were angry.

**trance** · December 11, 2014, 06:35 AM

Originally Posted by alhoon

From the source:
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-30411523

"But several witnesses said the minister had been hit and shoved by soldiers. One said he had been hit in the chest by a tear-gas canister fired by them."
and
"A Reuters photographer said he had seen Mr Abu Ein being struck by a hand on the neck during an altercation with two soldiers."

A heart attack? Perhaps. But do you really believe that being shoved around inhaling teargas and all had nothing to do with his death by heart attack, even if it was that?

To get back on how it would affect the peace, I don't find it surprising that after a minister died in a peaceful protest, the Palestinians were angry.

Completely irrelevant. If you're old and have a history of health problems you don't commit to long distance running. Then MAYBE, just MAYBE you're responsible for not getting involved in violent altercation at a protest rally. This has nothing to do with the IDF, I hope you can see this despite any eventual anti-Israeli sentiments. That the palestinians are now trying to exploit his death to garner support is nothing new, it has happened before and it will happen again. Palestine is quite notorious for its effective use of propaganda - be the cause right or wrong is however left unsaid.

P.S. Once again we see the preferred arab way of treating medical situations - through petting, then 5 guys grabbing the afflicted who is at the same time filmed. Instead of administring any type of first-aid on site. Well, I suppose the Israelis could/should have intervened and see themselves win a propaganda battle themselves. Then again, I do doubt that such footage would ever have been published.

**sumskilz** · December 11, 2014, 08:02 AM

Originally Posted by alhoon

"But several witnesses said the minister had been hit and shoved by soldiers. One said he had been hit in the chest by a tear-gas canister fired by them."

Of course the Reuters photographer didn't see that. He only saw what we can all see in the video.

Originally Posted by trance

P.S. Once again we see the preferred arab way of treating medical situations - through petting, then 5 guys grabbing the afflicted who is at the same time filmed. Instead of administring any type of first-aid on site. Well, I suppose the Israelis could/should have intervened and see themselves win a propaganda battle themselves. Then again, I do doubt that such footage would ever have been published.

Actually, at about two minutes in an Israeli medic tries to administer first aid, but most news sites aren't showing that part: https://uk.news.yahoo.com/video/exam...225007283.html

Evidently his friends didn't want him to have medical assistance from an Israeli, since they drag him away at that point.

**Caligula's_Horse** · December 11, 2014, 06:47 AM

Originally Posted by alhoon

From the source:
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-30411523

"But several witnesses said the minister had been hit and shoved by soldiers. One said he had been hit in the chest by a tear-gas canister fired by them."
and
"A Reuters photographer said he had seen Mr Abu Ein being struck by a hand on the neck during an altercation with two soldiers."

A heart attack? Perhaps. But do you really believe that being shoved around inhaling teargas and all had nothing to do with his death by heart attack, even if it was that?

To get back on how it would affect the peace, I don't find it surprising that after a minister died in a peaceful protest, the Palestinians were angry.

Yes, actually, I honestly believe that with the exception of the stress (which is pretty much a given in a protest), he wasn't subjected to anything by IDF soldiers that may cause a heart attack.
Blows and tear gas don't cause heart attacks, clogged arteries do. So unless a Shin Bet agent sneaked into his house in the middle of the night with a syringe full of saturated fats, it really isn't the IDF's fault. Trust me, if Israel really wanted him removed from the picture, we'd have just sent soldiers to arrest him; we do it all the time with Palestinian terrorists, and ex-terrorists suspected of returning to old habits.

And for the record, what we call a "peaceful protest" in the middle east isn't the same as a peaceful protest anywhere else. Anything short of wide spread looting, rioting and gunfire is considered "peaceful" in the occupied territories. Provoking soldiers with shoves, rocks and blows is very much an integral part of Palestinian protests, to which the soldiers understandably react with force.

**alhoon** · December 11, 2014, 08:30 AM

Originally Posted by Caligula's_Horse

And for the record, what we call a "peaceful protest" in the middle east isn't the same as a peaceful protest anywhere else. Anything short of wide spread looting, rioting and gunfire is considered "peaceful" in the occupied territories.

They were planting olive trees and shouting...

Originally Posted by Caligula's_Horse

Provoking soldiers with shoves, rocks and blows is very much an integral part of Palestinian protests, to which the soldiers understandably react with force.

Our anarchists do that too and most of the time the police don't respond with force. If a protester dies, like it happened in 2008, Athens burns.

NOTE: Whatever happened, it will certainly affect the peace, whatever kind of peace that is with people dying every week. Heart attack that teargas and punches had nothing to do with? I don't think so, many of the posters do. However a minister's death at a protest will certainly agitate Palestinians.
If that happened in Greece, a well-known protester, deeply organized with the anarchists, died in a protest, there would be tons of trouble. I expect the situation in the West Bank will severely escalate because of that death, heart attack or not.

**snuggans** · December 10, 2014, 12:38 PM

and of course Hamas is already using a light scuffle and a heart attack as a rallying point for more "armed resistance" which will no doubt be forgotten by the public when the returned fire lands and everybody goes out to protest exclusively with Palestinian flags.

**Uriyaca** · December 11, 2014, 01:33 AM

When a Palestinian comes with a gun and shoots an Israeli right-winged activist Yehuda Glik 4 times, nobody gives a damn, but when a similiar Palestinian gets a heart attack, the UN condems....
Comon....

**PurpleScotch** · December 11, 2014, 05:41 AM

Originally Posted by Uriyaca

When a Palestinian comes with a gun and shoots an Israeli right-winged activist Yehuda Glik 4 times, nobody gives a damn, but when a similiar Palestinian gets a heart attack, the UN condems....
Comon....

Poor Israel

always the victim

*sarcasm*

**DisgruntledGoat** · December 11, 2014, 07:46 AM

I'm all for the Palestinian cause. I don't agree with the majority of the Israeli tactics in this 'conflict.' That being said, it sure looks like a heart attack, and I can't say I feel too sorry to see him gone:

Abu Ein previously spent several years in Israeli prison for his role in a 1979 terrorist attack in Tiberias. A group of youngsters were celebrating Lag Ba’omer in the city center when a bomb exploded in their midst. Two 16-year-olds – Boaz Lahav and David Lankri – were killed and 36 other youths wounded.

After the attack, he fled to the US. In 1981, he became the first Palestinian ever to be extradited from the US to Israel.

A year later, Abu Ein was sentenced to life imprisonment but was released in the 1985 Jibril prisoner exchange deal. During the second intifada, Abu Ein was held in administrative detention.

Abu Ein was considered a prominent figure in Fatah’s young guard.

He was closely associated with jailed Fatah leader Marwan Barghouti, who is serving five life-terms in prison for his role in a series of terrorist attacks against Israelis at the beginning of the second intifada, which erupted in September 2000.

**sumskilz** · December 11, 2014, 08:39 AM

Abu Ein, a Palestinian Authority cabinet minister, collapsed and died in the afternoon hours of Wednesday. Now a Palestinian-led autopsy claims his cause of death was a stress-induced heart attack.

The report, being led by Palestinian, Jordanian and Israeli pathologists, said the death was caused by blockage in the coronary artery, and said there were signs of light internal bleeding and localized pressure on the neck, at least according to the Israeli version of the report published by the Health Ministry

The deceased suffered from heart disease, and there was evidence that plaque buildup were clogging more than 80% of his blood vessels, as well as signs that he had suffered heart attacks in the past.

The Palestinian government issued a statement after its meeting, blaming Israel for the "murder" of Abu Ein. "After publication of the results, we can say that Israel is responsible for the murder of Abu Ein," the government said.

Palestinian autopsy reveals minister died from heart attack

**alhoon** · December 14, 2014, 09:34 AM

The Greek newspaper I read (Chaniotika nea) reported the death more or less as "minister died from heart failure after being beaten by Israeli troops". It didn't go into detail.

Also, 2 days ago leftwing terrorists attacked the Israeli embassy in Athens, although Israelis seem to think (my opinion from a Greek Newspaper, not in the source) it's not related to the minister or the Palestinian cause but it was just a show of force from the terrorists, attacking such a well guarded building. All parties (except Golden Dawn) condemned the attack.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/1...n_6313130.html