RAMALLAH, Thursday, May 7, 2020 (WAFA) – Israeli plans to build thousands of new housing units in the illegal settlements in the occupied West Bank and statements by US officials regarding recognition of Israeli annexation of occupied Palestinian territory were highlighted on the front page of the three Palestinian Arabic dailies published today.
The main front-page story in al-Ayyam said Israel plans to build 7,000 housing units in the settlements near Bethlehem to expand the existing Gush Etzion settlement bloc.
Al-Quds quoted what it described as “informed American sources” telling it that Washington demands from the Palestinian leadership a clear vision and maps to solve the Palestinian issue as a condition for not recognizing Israel’s annexation of occupied Palestinian territory.
It said the US Secretary of State is going to visit Israel next week to discuss the annexation.
It quoted the US ambassador to Israel calling on Israel to speed up the annexation and freeze expanding isolated settlements.
Al-Hayat al-Jadida quoted the spokesman for the Palestinian president condemning the US ambassador’s statements in which he said the annexation is an Israeli decision and descried them as lies since annexation is part of the US so-called deal of the century.
The paper also highlighted Fatah’s Central Committee communique in which it said that the united Palestinian position in confronting the US deal of the century and in facing coronavirus pandemic has thwarted all conspiracies.
It said Israel released a senior Palestinian official in occupied East Jerusalem after holding him for 24 hours, placed him under house arrest and banned him from getting in contact with other Palestinian officials.
The paper printed a picture of Palestinian taxis at a West Bank station after the government has eased restriction on movement imposed to fight the corona pandemic and allowed them to resume work after two months of inactivity.
Al-Ayyam said three new corona cases were confirmed in the Gaza Strip yesterday and 54 recoveries in the West Bank and East Jerusalem. In addition, it said, 15 new cases were confirmed among the Palestinian communities in the United States and Poland.
It said that Israeli settlers attacked a Palestinian herder and stole his sheep while others build roads on seized Palestinian lands.
It said Egypt, Switzerland and Germany are mediating for a prisoner exchange deal between Hamas and Israel.
Al-Quds said the Israeli High Court said Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu can form the next Likud-Blue/White Israeli government.
It added in a report quoting analysts saying that the new government is interested in reaching a prisoner exchange deal.
The papers said Israel bombarded locations in the Gaza Strip without causing any injuries.
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