RAMALLAH, June 4, 2011 (WAFA) – The three Palestinian dailies focused Saturday on two prime stories: Abbas’ meeting with the Pope and the Yemeni president’s injuries in a shelling attack.

Al-Hayat Al-Jadida, Al-Ayyam and Al-Quds featured Abbas’ meeting with Pope Benedict XVI in Rome where they stressed the urgent need of a Palestinian state.

Al-Ayyam’s prime headline from the Yemeni capital, Sana, read: “Saleh injured; officials, guards killed in shelling on presidential headquarters.” The story was featured in al-Hayat Al-Jadida and Al-Quds front pages as well.

Al-Quds top front page story reported on Israeli preparations for possible Palestinian protests in Israel or at the Lebanese and Syrian borders marking the anniversary of the June 5, 1967, war, which Palestinians refer to as Naksa Day.

Al-Hayat Al-Jadida and Al-Ayyam’s headlines also tackled the same story. “Israeli army declares state of alert fearing protests at borders for Naksa anniversary,” said the headline in Al-Hayat Al-Jadida.

All three dailies printed pictures of Israeli patrols and tanks near the borders and in Jerusalem.

Al-Ayyam published an exclusive story detailing the French peace initiative. The paper quoted an unnamed French diplomat talking about the importance of resuming Palestinian-Israeli negotiations. Both Al-Quds and Al-Hayat Al-Jadida featured Abbas’ conditional approval of the initiative.

Al-Hayat Al-Jadida’s top story headline covered events in Syria, featuring a picture of the protests. The events made it to Al-Quds and Al-Ayyam front pages as well.

Al-Quds and Al-Hayat Al-Jadida’s editorials discussed anticipated Palestinian non-violence protests and events marking Naksa Day. They also raised questions on the latest developments in the Palestinian reconciliation file.

R.Q./M.A.