RAMALLAH, Thursday, March 19, 2020 (WAFA) – Palestinian government restrictions on movement announced yesterday by Prime Minister Mohammad Shtayyeh in another effort to combat coronavirus pandemic were highlighted on the front page of the three Palestinian Arabic dailies today.
The papers highlighted mainly restrictions on movement in the Bethlehem district between its three cities: Bethlehem, Beit Jala and Beit Sahour, the epicenter of coronavirus, and on movement of buses between the various West Bank governorates, in addition to other restrictions that have to do with Palestinian workers in Israel and Israeli settlements.
The papers, particularly al-Hayat al-Jadida, highlighted as well the death of the presidential secretary general Tayeb Abdul Rahim at age 75 and the eulogies said on his behalf by President Mahmoud Abbas and many other Palestinian leaders.
Back to coronavirus, al-Hayat al-Jadida said no new cases were reported of coronavirus in the Palestinian territories yesterday, which stand until now at 44, mainly in the Bethlehem district were 40 cases are found, two in Tulkarm, one in Nablus and one in Ramallah - all under quarantine.
Al-Quds said President Abbas conferred with his Israeli counterpart Reuvin Rivlin yesterday in a telephone call on joint efforts to confront coronavirus.
Al-Quds said the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) condemned Israeli attempts to take advantage of the pandemic to escalate its settlement activities in the occupied Palestinian territories.
Al-Ayyam daily quoted the Israeli settlement watch group, Peace Now, saying that construction is underway for 1917 new housing units in the illegal settlements while plans are in the making to build 8457 new units and tenders were issued for 1761 units.
It said Israel is considering imposing full closure after 90 new cases of coronavirus were confirmed in one day yesterday.
The impact of coronavirus in the world, particularly Italy, and on the world economies was also highlighted on the front page of the three dailies.
M.K.
