RAMALLAH, June 13, 2017 (WAFA) – The Israeli cabinet’s approval of a 40 percent reduction in electricity supply to the besieged Gaza Strip, where Palestinians are coping with a crippling power crisis and daily hours-long blackouts, hit the front page headlines in the Tuesday Palestinian dailies.
Al-Quds highlighted warnings that a catastrophe would befall the besieged Gaza Strip when Israel reduces the electricity supply.
Al-Ayyam and al-Hayat al-Jadida said Palestinian cabinet held the Hamas movement, “the party maintaining the division,” responsible for the electricity crisis.
Al-Hayat al-Jadida also reported Palestinian cabinet spokesman Yousef al-Mahmoud stating the cabinet was committed to pay NIS 25 millions in monthly electricity bill.
Al-Ayyam added the Israeli human rights group Gisha sent a letter to Israeli Defense Minister Avigdor Lieberman urging him not to reduce the electricity supply to Gaza.
Al-Quds reported a German parliamentarian delegation refused to meet Israeli Internal Security Minister Gilad Erdan at his office in occupied East Jerusalem.
It added President Mahmoud Abbas called on Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu not to miss the chance to conclude a peace agreement.
Abbas was also reported in al-Hayat al-Jadida congratulating Birzeit University for being listed in the top three percent of the best universities in the world in the 14th edition of the QS World University Rankings.
Al-Quds reported Israeli forces leveled Palestinian-owned land in Furush Beit Dajan area, east of Nablus, and delivered a notification to demolish a Palestinian home in al-Nwaimeh area, north of Jericho.
It added a Hamas delegation has returned to the besieged Gaza Strip following a “positive” visit to Cairo.
Al-Ayyam added in this regard Hamas denied reports that the delegation signed any understandings with Egyptian officials.
Al-Quds and al-Hayat al-Jadida spotlighted a report titled Settler Violence: Lack of accountability by Israeli human rights group B’Tselem.
They reported B’Tselem stating Israeli settlers’ acts of violence and intimidation are a “type of privatization of force ]which serves to further entrench Israel’s control without official action on the part of the state.[”
Al-Quds and al-Ayyam said Belgium has refused to recognize any change to the pre-1967 borders along which the State of Palestine would be established.
Al-Ayyam and al-Hayat al-Jadida said the United Nations has defended the Palestinian refugees agency, UNRWA, following Israeli criticism.
It added the UN Office for Job Service (UNOPS) posted a job offering on its website, listing the duty station as “Jerusalem, State of Palestine,” drawing Israel’s ire.
K.F./M.K.
