RAMALLAH, Wednesday, January 08, 2020 (WAFA) – Israeli police assault on Muslim worshippers at Al-Aqsa Mosque, Islam’s third holiest site, and threats to demolish structures and land in the occupied territories dominated today’s front-page headlines of al-Hayat al-Jadida and al-Ayyam Palestinian Arabic dailies.

The third daily, al-Quds, highlighted as its main front-page story the funeral of assassinated Iranian commander Qassem Soleimani and ongoing reactions to the targeted assassination.

Al-Quds also reported on the Israeli measures at Al-Aqsa Mosque and said that the Muslim Waqf department, the official party in charge of the Mosque, has warned against Israeli provocations at the Muslim holy place and of its repercussions, including the chance of an outbreak of a religious war.

It also said Jordan has condemned the Israeli provocations at Al-Aqsa Mosque.

The paper reported as well on the Israeli measures in the occupied territories and quoted a report by the Israeli human rights group, B’Tselem, that Israel demolished 521 structures in the occupied territories in 2019, including 265 structures in occupied Jerusalem.

Al-Ayyam reported on these topics as well and said in another front-page story, quoting Israeli sources, that the US intends to make public its so-called “deal of the century” before the Israeli elections set for early March.

It said Israel’s Defense Minister Neftali Bennett wants to use Palestinians caught smuggling into Israel from Gaza as a bargaining chip in any future prisoners’ exchange deal.

Al-Hayat al-Jadida said that the Israeli High Court has postponed, and for third time, a hearing of an appeal by prisoners re-arrested after their release in a former exchange deal.

M.K.