Israel prepares for confrontation after Palestinian minister dies

The Israeli army raised the level of readiness in the West Bank following the death of Palestinian minister Ziad Abu Ein who suffocated on Israeli tear gas yesterday during a protest in the West Bank, the Anadolu Agency reported.

Israeli army Chief of Staff General Benny Gantz yesterday held security consultations with the Israeli army and security forces’ leadership to assess the situation in the West Bank.

Israeli Army Radio said that Gantz has ordered the level of security readiness to be raised and for the number of soldiers and border policemen to be increased in anticipation of an outbreak of clashes with Palestinian youths.

The station noted that the Israeli security forces expect confrontations in various Palestinian areas following Abu Ein’s death.

Abu Ein, a Palestinian minister, died after he was attacked by the Israeli army during a protest against the Israeli settlements and the Separation Wall in the town of Turmusiya, north of Ramallah. He died of suffocation after being beaten by Israeli soldiers and coming in contact with tear gas. The demonstration was organised by the popular resistance committees against settlements, apartheid and the Separation Wall.