Funeral triggers clashes; 9 Palestinians hurt
Violence erupts Saturday following funeral of Palestinian man killed by IDF; Prime Minister Fayyad condemns rioter's death, accuses global community of inaction
The funeral of a Palestinian man killed by the IDF triggered further clashes between Palestinians and troops Saturday in his hometown of al-Ram, north of Jerusalem.
At least nine Palestinians were wounded in the violence, Arab sources said. Shop owners in the area closed their stores in solidarity with the protests.
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Local sources told Ynet that Palestinians blocked the entrance to the village upon the funeral's conclusion, setting fire to tires and trash cans. They also threw stones at IDF troops. According to the report, the soldiers retaliated with tear gas and other crowd dispersal means.
The IDF confirmed the report, adding that the rioters were also throwing Molotov cocktails.
Fayyad: Israel to blame for death
Earlier, Palestinian Prime Minister Salam Fayyad the killing of the Palestinian man during a riot near the Qalandiya checkpoint on Friday.
Fayyad said he holds Israel's government responsible for the death, and accused the global community of inaction.
"The international community's silence over the Jewish state's policies against the Palestinian people contributes to the Israeli disregard of Palestinian lives," he said.
Ramaya's funeral procession (Photo: Noam Moskovich)
Palestinian sources said Friday that Tala'th Ramaya, 25, sustained serious gunfire wounds to his torso in a clash between rioters and IDF soldiers. He was rushed to the Ramallah Hospital, where he later died of his wounds. Five other Palestinians were wounded in the riot.
IDF: Soldiers acted properly
An initial IDF investigation into Ramaya's death revealed that some 20 Palestinians were rioting near the checkpoint and were clashing with security forces.
Ramaya had reportedly fired several flares at the troops from close range. The soldiers, feeling in imminent danger, returned fire, causing him a shoulder injury.
The initial IDF inquiry concluded that the soldiers followed proper procedures. The army said it would continue the investigation.
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