Egypt condemns Palestinian minister's killing by Israeli troops

Cairo: Egypt Wednesday condemned the killing of a Palestinian minister by Israeli troops in the West Bank and voiced concerns over such the Jewish state's "provocative practices and escalations."

Ziad Abu Ain used to serve as a minister without portfolio at the Palestinian National Authority, and was member of Fatah movement.

He was reportedly killed Wednesday by Israeli troops while taking part in an anti-Jewish settlement protest in a village near the West Bank city of Ramallah.

"Egypt urges the Israeli side to exercise self-restraint and immediately stop excessive use of force and such illegitimate practices, especially the settlement activities," Egypt's foreign ministry said in a statement, warning against the endless violence such acts may lead to.

In a short televised statement, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas denounced the murder as "a brutal act" and a "crime", adding that, "We insist on continuing popular resistance against the Israeli occupation and settlement until they are gone."

Since its occupation in Palestinian territories in 1948, Israel has maintained a policy of settlement expansion that has been always one of the main obstacles facing the Middle East peace process, Abbas said.

The Palestinians seek an independent state in light of the UN-proposed two-state solution based on the pre-1967 borders.