RAMALLAH, June 7, 2011 (WAFA) - News about clashes between Palestinian refugees and armed men of Ahmad Jibril’s Popular Front – General Command in Syria’s Yarmouk refugee camp during the funeral of those killed in the Naksa Day commemorations were highlighted on the front pages of Tuesday’s three Arabic dailies.

The common headline in al-Ayyam and al-Hayat al-Jadida read: “14 killed in Yarmouk refugee camp by Ahmad Jibril’s gang.” All three papers featured a picture of the Naksa Day funerals on their front pages.

The stories also covered international calls for restraint in the Golan Heights and Arab condemnation of the “Israeli massacre” on June 5.

Al-Ayyam and al-Hayat al-Jadida’s headlines quoted Fatah leader Azzam al-Ahmad as saying: “A date will be set within days for meeting Hamas in Cairo to form a government.”

Al-Quds’ front page story said the Committee to Intensify Settlements in Jerusalem has approved 4100 new housing units in East Jerusalem. The story was also featured in al-Hayat al-Jadida and al-Ayyam.

The front pages of all three newspapers also reported on US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton’s reserved welcome of the French peace initiative.

Al-Hayat al-Jadida featured Salam Fayyad’s meeting with its journalist Nael Mousa to thank him for his report on the use of banned chemicals in bread making.

An op-ed in al-Quds had the headline: “What’s happening at Rafah border crossing?” questioning its sudden recent closure.

A column in al-Ayyam by Hani Masri accused the French peace initiative of attempting to terminate the Palestinian plan to gain United Nations recognition of a Palestinian state within 1967 borders in September.

R.Q./F.J.