RAMALLAH, Wednesday, June 17, 2020 (WAFA) – The joint statement made by some 50 United Nations (UN) human rights experts condemning Israel’s annexation move dominated the front page headlines in Wednesday’s issue of the three Palestinian Arabic dailies.

Al-Quds and al-Ayyam reported that the UN human rights experts statement condemned Israel’s annexation plan.

Al-Quds added that the statement voiced regret about Washington’s support to Israel’s annexation plan and stressed the need for accountability as an urgent priority for the international community.

The independent experts were reported in al-Hayat al-Jadida saying: “The United Nations has stated on many occasions that the 53-year-old Israeli occupation is the source of profound human rights violations against the Palestinian people.”

They were also reported in al-Ayyam saying that the international community has to oppose the annexation plan, and stressing that: “criticism without consequences will neither forestall annexation nor end the occupation.”

Al-Quds also reported in its main front page news item that Democratic US lawmakers addressed a letter to Israeli Premier Benjamin Netanyahu, ‘Defense’ Minister Benny Gantz and Foreign Minister Gabi Ashkenazi urging them to reverse the annexation move.

The spread of the novel coronavirus in the occupied Palestinian territories also dominated the front page headlines in the dailies.

Al-Quds reported Health Minister Mai al-Kaileh announcing that 12 new coronavirus cases were recorded in the West Bank.

She was reported in al-Ayyam and al-Hayat al-Jadida elaborating that 11 more Palestinians contracted the virus in the West Bank districts of Ramallah, Hebron, Tulkarem, Bethlehem and Jerusalem.

She was also reported in al-Ayyam and al-Hayat al-Jadida that preparations were underway to confront a second wave of the virus.

The Foreign Affairs and Expatriates Ministry was reported in al-Ayyam confirming that three more Palestinians died due to the virus and five more others contracted it in the diaspora.

The dailies highlighted Jordan King Abdullah II’s virtual meeting with US congressional leaders and committees.

Abdullah II was reported in al-Quds and al-Ayyam affirming his country’s rejection to Israel’s annexation plan.

He was also reported in al-Hayat al-Jadida warning that “any unilateral Israeli measure to annex lands in the West Bank is unacceptable and undermines the prospects of achieving peace and stability in the region.”

Al-Quds and al-Ayyam covered AFP’s report Palestinian security shred files in fear of Israeli incursion.

According to al-Quds and al-Hayat al-Jadida, the European Union affirmed its support to the International Criminal Court.

Al-Quds and al-Ayyam said that an Israeli military force raided the West Bank city of Ramallah, where they detained a number of Palestinians.

Al-Quds said that a number of Palestinians were injured from Israeli gunfire during a raid in Kafr Aqab town, north of Jerusalem.

Al-Ayyam elaborated that five Palestinians were injured from Israeli military gunfire in the town and three others were detained from Jerusalem’s Old City.

Al-Ayyam said that Israeli forces installed more surveillance cameras at the Ibrahimi Mosque in Hebron.

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson was reported in the dailies stating that Israel’s annexation move “amounts to a breach of international law” and expressing opposition to it.

Al-Quds covered Xinhua’s news analysis Palestine stops coordination with Israel over updating population record.

According to al-Hayat al-Jadida, President Mahmoud Abbas had a phone call with his Chechen counterpart Ramazan Kadyrov.

Al-Ayyam printed a news analysis highlighting the return of calm to Gaza’s borders following Israeli airstrikes on observation points.

K.F.