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Palestinians Mourn Official Killed in Clash With Israeli Troops

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Palestinians clashed with Israeli troops on Thursday following the funeral for a Cabinet minister who died in a confrontation with Israeli security forces this week.

Thousands of people, including Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, gathered in Ramallah for the funeral procession of Ziad Abu Ein.

"They keep killing us and as you can see how they have killed the martyr Abu Ein. They keep us under siege," Ramallah resident Osama Sami lamented to Reuters.

Palestinian minister Ziad Abu Ein (L) scuffles with an Israeli border policeman near the West Bank city of Ramallah, Dec. 10, 2014.
Palestinian minister Ziad Abu Ein (L) scuffles with an Israeli border policeman near the West Bank city of Ramallah, Dec. 10, 2014.

During protests on Wednesday, Israeli troops pushed Abu Ein by the neck and chest and also fired tear gas in the area.

Palestinian doctors said Thursday that an autopsy showed he died from being struck, while Israeli officials said a heart attack caused his death.

Israel Defense Forces spokesman Peter Lerner said the military is investigating what happened.

Abu Ein had served a life sentence in an Israeli jail over a 1979 bombing that killed two Israeli youths. He was released in a prisoner exchange in 1985.

His death is likely to further heighten tensions between Israel and the Palestinians following months of violent unrest.

Some material for this report came from Reuters.

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