RAMALLAH, June 20, 2011 (WAFA) – Monday’s Arabic dailies focused on two prime issues: the delay in the anticipated meeting between President Mahmoud Abbas and Hamas leader Khaled Mashal and the Israeli expansion of 2000 housing units in East Jerusalem.

A main headline in Al-Ayyam reported on the delay in final talks between Abbas and Mashal, which were scheduled for Tuesday, until further notice due to Abbas’ other engagements.

Al-Quds’ main front page story featured the Israeli government’s decision to expand 2000 housing units for settlers in East Jerusalem, coinciding with the meeting between Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu with Catherine Ashton, the European Union high representative for foreign affairs.

The story also featured the Israeli Cabinet’s decision to transfer settlement-monitoring authority from the ministry of agriculture to the prime minister’s office.  

The three dailies reported on Abbas’ meeting with President of the Dominican Republic Leonel Fernández. Abbas said the Palestinian leadership will approve any peace initiative based on the terms of reference of the peace process.

Al-Hayat al-Jadida featured, on its front page, Israeli threats to withdraw VIP cards and withhold transferring tax revenues to the Palestinian Authority if it goes ahead with seeking United Nations recognition of a Palestinian state within 1967 borders next September.

Al-Quds and al-Hayat al-Jadida stories featured Prime Minister Salam Fayyad’s meeting with the Minister of International Development Cooperation, Gunilla Carlsson. Al-Quds headline quoted Fayyad as saying “International community obliged to take responsibility to end occupation.”

The three dailies reported on the current situation in Syria.

An al-Quds column condemned the Israeli decision to expand 2000 housing units in Jerusalem, violating international law and terms of reference of the peace process.

R.Q./F.J.