RAMALLAH, June 23, 2011 (WAFA) - The three local Arabic dailies Thursday focused mainly on the visit of President Mahmoud Abbas and Chairman of Hamas Political Bureau Khaled Meshal to Turkey.
The three papers had headlines on Abbas meeting Thursday with Turkish President Abdullah Gül and Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmed Davutoglu in Ankara.
The papers also said that Abbas and Meshal did not meet in Turkey, referring to Meshal’s visit to Turkey on Wednesday where he discussed the reconciliation agreement with Davutoglu.
The second main topic on the front pages of Al-Ayyam read: “Israeli army agrees to tear down part of the barbed wire fence near Bil’in,” a village west of Ramallah, as a result of the six year Palestinian protest against the fence.
It printed a picture of Israeli vehicles and soldiers tearing down the fence west of the Bilin. Al-Hayat Al-Jadida printed the same picture, and Al-Quds covered the same story.
Al-Ayyam and Al-Quds had a front page story about Fayyad praising Saudi Arabia’s support of the Palestinian people and calling for further Arab support. Fayyad’s appraisal comes in response to media allegations on Tuesday which denied Saudi support to Palestinians.
In a related development, Al-Hayat Al-Jadida mentioned the Saudi grant of US$5.2 million to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees, UNRWA.
Al-Hayat Al-Jadida and Al-Ayyam’s front pages both covered statements by Dennis Ross, senior adviser to US President Barack Obama on Middle East issues, in which he said, “no-one can impose a solution on the Palestinians and Israelis, and Israel’s nature as a Jewish democratic state must be ensured.”
Al-Hayat Al-Jadida featured the United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon urging Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak to end the siege imposed on Gaza.
It also featured an Israeli report that held Netanyahu and Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak fully responsible for failing to deal with Freedom Flotilla 1.
In a related matter, Al-Ayyam featured the United Nations warning its member countries against participating in the aid ships heading toward Gaza to end the siege imposed on it.
Al-Quds’ and Al-Ayyam’s front pages both covered American official statements in which US aid to Palestinians is conditioned on the nature of the upcoming Palestinian government.
Syrian Foreign Minister Walid Moallem urging all foreign countries, particularly those of Europe, not to interfere in his country's affairs was also on the front page of the Al-Hayat al-Jadida.
Al-Ayyam and Al-Hayat Al-Jadida reported on statements by a human rights organization on a significant increase in the number of Palestinian buildings demolished by Israel in the West Bank. The number of buildings demolished by the Israeli civil administration in the last six months increased significantly, leading to the displacement of around 700 Palestinians.
Tzipi Livni, Knesset opposition leader, said: “Israel has lost its legitimacy due to Netanyahu’s avoidance of negotiations,” said Al-Hayat Al-Jadida.
Al-Quds featured the rejection of Palestinian students applying for Visas to participate in the 2011 Formula Student competition in London by the British Embassy in Jordan. The denial was due to British allegations that the Palestinian team did not have an official financial sponsor during its stay in London.
Al-Ayam reported on Fayyad’s inauguration of new water wells to increase water resources in Hebron and Bethelehem.
Al-Quds and Al-Ayyam covered the events in Syria. Al-Quds printed a picture of Syrians fleeing into Lebanon through an illegal border crossing to escape violence in the Syrian town of Tel Killah and the regime of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.
Al-Ayyam also covered the events in Egypt. It read: “Formation of electoral alliances of 18 parties in Egypt that stress citizenship, freedom of belief and assigning leadership.”
T.R./F.J.
