RAMALLAH, Tuesday, January 21, 2020 (WAFA) – Israeli eviction and demolition orders against 30 homes in occupied East Jerusalem and 18 in Masafer Yatta in the south of the West Bank dominated the front-page headlines in the three Palestinian Arabic dailies today.
They said Israel ordered 22 Palestinian households in the Old City of Jerusalem to leave their homes under the pretext they are about to collapse due to cracks in the walls caused by Israeli excavations under these homes. This will displace 200 people in 22 families.
In addition, 18 homes in Masafer Yatta are slated for demolition under the pretext of construction without permit.
Al-Ayyam and al-Quds also said Israeli forces assaulted Muslim worshippers at Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem’s Old City and detained three people.
Al-Ayyam said Israeli settlers attacked a Palestinian car while driving in the south of the West Bank.
It said Israeli forces attacked areas east of the Gaza Strip as Gazans continued to fly incendiary balloons into southern Israel.
Al-Quds said Israel has deployed 11,000 police officers and raised preparations as foreign dignitaries get ready to visit the Holy Sepulcher and Al-Buraq Wall in the Old City of Jerusalem.
It quoted Palestinian settlements expert Khalil Toufaqji saying that Israel no longer recognizes the Oslo classification of the West Bank into areas A, B and C.
It said Luxembourg Foreign Minister resembled Israel’s intentions to annex the Jordan Valley to Russia’s annexation of Crimea.
The papers said schools and governments delayed work today by one hour due to the bad weather conditions.
Al-Hayat al-Jadida highlighted the visit of President Mahmoud Abbas to the children ward at the Istishari Hospital near Ramallah during which he expressed support for developing the health sector.
It quoted Minister of Health Mai Kaileh of saying that medical transfers to Israeli hospitals have dropped by 60 percent and costs dropped from 40 million Israeli shekels ($11.5 million) a month to only 6 million ($1.7 million).
It said British parliamentarians have called on their government to recognize the State of Palestine.
M.K.
