Ashton ‘deeply regrets’ death of Nabi Salih protester

EU foreign affairs chief urges investigation into incident.

Catherine Ashton talks with EU foreign ministers 311 (R) (photo credit: REUTERS/Thierry Roge)
Catherine Ashton talks with EU foreign ministers 311 (R)
(photo credit: REUTERS/Thierry Roge)
European Union foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton on Tuesday expressed deep regret over the death of Palestinian protester Mustafa Tamimi in Nabi Salih over the weekend and urged an Israeli investigation into the incident.
“The high representative deeply regrets the tragic death of Mustafa Tamimi,” a statement from Ashton’s spokesperson said. Ashton “regrets the disproportionate use of force under any circumstances,” the spokesperson added.
Tamimi died Saturday after being hit in the head by a tear gas canister fired by IDF forces attempting to disperse a protest in the West Bank town. The IDF Military Police and the Central Command have opened investigations into the incident.
Representatives of the Quartet are scheduled to arrive in Jerusalem Wednesday for a third round of separate talks with Israelis and Palestinians since their statement on September 23 laying out a framework for entering direct negotiations.