Israel and the Palestinians were on the brink again today after a Fatah cabinet minister died shortly after an altercation with the Israeli military during a West Bank protest. Ziad Abu Ain was hit in the chest with a rifle butt and grabbed by soldiers, who also fired tear gas at the demonstrators, witnesses said. Shortly after the attack, the 55-year-old minister without portfolio began to look faint and fell to the ground clasping his chest, according to people at the scene. He died on the way to hospital. His death was condemned by Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, who described the attack as 'a barbaric act which we cannot be silent about or accept.'
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Ziad Abu Ain died shortly after the incident  near the village of Turmus Aya
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He collapsed clutching his chest after he was struck
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Abu Ain was protesting against land confiscations when clashes erupted
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Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas called the attack barbaric
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