RAMALLAH, July 3, 2011 (WAFA) – The three Arabic dailies focused Sunday on President Mahmoud Abbas’ denial of the reconciliation failure and reiteration that the national unity government will follow his program.
Al-Ayyam, Al-Hayat al-Jadida and Al-Quds featured a radio interview with Abbas where he called on the Quartet to adopt legal references for negotiations, that is, the 1967 borders. He also called on Israel to stop settlement activities, in accordance with the French peace initiative which was refused by the Israeli government.
Al-Hayat Al-Jadida and Al-Ayyam reported that the Quartet has called to prevent the launching of Freedom Flotilla II towards Gaza to break the Israeli blockade on the Strip. The Quartet called on “all concerned governments” to influence the ships not to sail.
The papers also featured the arrest of a US captain of one of the ships in Greece. The Freedom Flotilla organizers said they are preparing to set sail on Monday.
Another common headline read: “Socialist International supports full UN membership of Palestinian state.”
Al-Ayyam’s front page featured the upcoming Palestinian Ambassadors meeting in Madrid in an exclusive interview with Foreign Minister Riyad al-Malki, who anticipated that the European Union will not take a joint stance on gaining full United Nations membership of a Palestinian state, but will leave this to each country individually.
The three dailies featured the Spanish parliament support of a resolution urging the Spanish government to support recognition of the Palestinian state, in coordination with the EU, if negotiations between the Palestinians and Israelis are not resumed.
R.Q./F.J.
