RAMALLAH, June 22, 2011 (WAFA) – Wednesday’s three Arabic dailies focused on Prime Minister Salam Fayyad’s press conference Tuesday where he stressed that he will not be an obstacle in the way of the new government.
Al-Hayat al-Jadida’s main headline quoted Fayyad saying “I will not impose myself on anyone.” He gathered reporters and columnists in his office in Ramallah where he said he was proud of his nomination by President Mahmoud Abbas but insisted that he will denounce the office if the dispute continues between Hamas and Fatah. He added that international acceptance of the new government does not depend on his participation in it.
Al-Quds’ main front page headline read: “Hamas accuses Abbas of breaching reconciliation, Fatah stresses Abbas’ stance in line with Central Committee decision.” The story highlighted a press release by Musa Abu Marzouk, deputy political bureau chief of Hamas, saying that Abbas’ nomination of Fayyad for prime minister is an “unjustified media escalation.”
Al-Ayyam’s front page story featured the government stance against the public employees’ union strike on Wednesday which protested Fayyad’s financial policies. Fayyad said the strike is illegal and that he gave instructions to all official institutions to treat anyone who does not come to work as absent without permission.
The front page picture in al-Quds featured a Palestinian bride banned from crossing Rafah border crossing to attend her wedding in Qatar. In the story below, the paper reported that Hamas is holding the Egyptian authorities responsible for the congestion on the crossing, where only 300 Palestinians of 18,000 registered ones are allowed to cross to enter Egypt every day.
Al-Hayat al-Jadida’s front page reported the demolishing of barracks and tents, used as houses by Palestinians living in the Jordan Valley area, by Israeli bulldozers under army protection. The paper printed a picture illustrating the news. Al-Ayyam featured the same news.
Al-Quds published an exclusive interview with Sweden's Minister for International Development Cooperation, Gunilla Carlsson, who called on the Palestinians to explore available options before seeking United Nations recognition of a Palestinian state next September.
The three dailies reported on the latest events in Syria and Egypt.
An editorial by Hani Habib in al-Ayyam newspaper condemned the enormous pressure put on Fayyad by Hamas and Fatah. Habib supported Fayyad for prime minister, saying “Fayyad is mistaken if he abandons his patriotic responsibility to run the office.”
R.Q./F.J.
