RAMALLAH, June 28, 2011 (WAFA) – The three Arabic dailies focused on different issues; Israeli preparations against Freedom Flotilla II, the formation of a Palestinian committee to follow up United Nations recognition of a Palestinian state next September, as well as the aggravating Israeli measures against Palestinian prisoners.
Al-Hayat al-Jadida, al-Quds and al-Ayyam featured front page stories on the Israeli government’s determination to prevent the Flotilla from reaching the Gaza Strip and its refusal to give more details on the plan. The Israeli government has retracted its decision to ban press members participating in the Flotilla from entering Israel for 10 years.
Al-Ayyam’s main headline reported on Fatah Commissioner for International Relations, Nabil Shaath’s announcement of the formation of a new Palestinian committee headed by Yasser Abd Rabbo, secretary of the PLO's executive committee, to follow up UN recognition of a Palestinian state next September and seek recognition of 192 countries as well.
Al-Quds’ main front page story quoted Shaul Mofaz, chairman of the Knesset foreign affairs and defense committee, as saying: “Recognition of Palestinian state may lead to war.” Mofaz said that he will urge French officials not to support the Palestinian plan to seek UN recognition.
The three dailies reported on Israeli measures against Palestinian prisoners; Al-Hayat al-Jadida reported Palestinian Minister of Detainees and Ex-Detainees, Issa Qaraqe, saying that the Israeli prison administration has isolated 23 Palestinian prisoners. Al-Quds reported that Israeli security units raided and inspected Ramon prison on the Egyptian borders.
The three dailies featured the first Islamic Bayt Al-Maqdis Conference in Ramallah, with the participation of Prime Minister Salam Fayyad, who considered Jewish settlement activities, especially in East Jerusalem, a “systematic obliteration of its Arab and Palestinian character.”
Al-Quds’ front page featured a statement by Khalil Al-Hayya, head of the Hamas-affiliated change and reform parliamentary bloc, in which he said there are no indications of a meeting between President Mahmoud Abbas and Hamas leader Khaled Mashal. Al-Hayya said that Abbas has no right to insist on a certain candidate for prime minister of the national unity government.
An op-ed in al-Ayyam newspaper by Hani al-Masri questioned the reason for the delay in implementing the reconciliation agreement, indicating a change in the terms of the agreement. Al-Masri called for initiating national talks between Palestinian factions that should avoid factional interests unrelated to the reconciliation agreement.
R.Q./F.J.
