RAMALLAH, Wednesday, January 29, 2020 (WAFA) – Unveiling the US-long-touted scandal-plagued peace initiative which cements Israel’s longstanding policy of permanent occupation, colonialism and apartheid over the Palestinian people hit the front page headlines in the dailies.

Al-Quds reported US President Donald Trump declaring Jerusalem as Israel’s “undivided capital” and promised a conditioned Palestinian state as he unveiled his plan.

It also reported US President’s son-in-law Jared Kushner revealing that the initiative calls for a four-year freeze in Israeli colonial settlement construction in areas designated for a future Palestinian state.

He was also reported saying that during the four-year period, Palestinians can present any objections.

Al-Quds and al-Ayyam said that the Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will bring the annexation of the Jordan Valley and colonial settlements in the West Bank before the cabinet on Sunday.

President Mahmoud Abbas’ statements and pledges in reaction to the US initiative also dominated the front page headlines.

He was reported in al-Quds and al-Ayyam affirming that “your conspiracy dill will not come to pass and will end in the dustbin of history”.

He was also reported in al-Quds and al-Hayat al-Jadida reiterating that “Jerusalem is not for sale” and pledging to take immediate measures to change the Palestinian Authority’s functional role.

He was also reported stressing that the Palestinian strategy is based on continuing the struggle to end the Israeli occupation until independence and the establishment of the Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital.

He was also reported in al-Hayat al-Jadida stressing that “We ]the Palestinian people[ are not a terrorist people and will never be one, but the world must understand that this people deserves life.”

According to the dailies, Abbas received a phone call from Hamas chief Ismail Haniyeh as well as from European Union (EU) President Charles Michel.

Haniyeh was reported in al-Ayyam expressing his movement’s support to Abbas’ steadfast positions rejecting the so-called deal of the century.

Abbas was reported in al-Hayat al-Jadida appreciating the EU’s positions and expressing his willingness to cooperate with EU to implement the relevant international resolutions.

According to al-Ayyam and al-Hayat al-Jadida, the Arab League is scheduled to hold an urgent ministerial-level meeting to discuss means to face the so-called “deal of the century” with Abbas’ attendance.

Al-Quds highlighted Arab and international reactions rejecting the US plan and affirming the need to respect international legitimacy.

While al-Quds said that Saudi Arabia valued Trump’s efforts, al-Ayyam and al-Hayat al-Jadida reported Saudi King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud underscoring his country’s support to Palestine in a phone call with Abbas.

The Saudi monarch was reported saying: “Your cause is our cause and the cause of the Arab and Muslim people”.

Al-Hayat al-Jadida reported United Nations (UN) spokesman Stephane Dujarric that the UN remains committed to realizing the vision of two states on the basis of the pre-1967 borders.

Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov was reported in al-Hayat al-Jadida stressing that it is not Washington who makes the settlement decision.

Turkish Foreign Ministry was reported calling the plan “still-born” and pledging not to support any plan rejected by Palestine.

German Foreign Ministry was reported saying that “Only a negotiated two-state solution, acceptable to both sides, can lead to a lasting peace between Israelis and Palestinians.”

Jordanian Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi was reported saying that his country’s unwavering positions and principles toward the Palestinian question govern the way his government deals with all proposals.

He was also reported stressing the need to establish the independent Palestinian state on the lines of June 4, 1967 with Jerusalem as its capital.

Al-Hayat al-Jadida said that Palestinians in the occupied territories and exile rallied in protest of the so-called “deal of the century”.

Al-Ayyam noted that dozens of Palestinians were injured from Israeli military gunfire during confrontations following mass rallies in rejection of the plan.

Finally, al-Hayat al-Jadida said that Israeli occupation authorities demolished a Palestinian store in Jerusalem.

It added that Israeli settler torched a classroom in a local school in Einabus village, south of Nablus.

K.F.