RAMALLAH, July 9, 2011 (WAFA) – The three Arabic dailies focused Saturday on US House of Representatives' resolution to cut aid to the Palestinian Authority if it sought United Nations recognition of a Palestinian state.

al-Ayyam, Al-Quds and al-Hayat al-Jadida's front pages reported that US House passed a resolution with an overwhelming majority of 406-6 vote to cut US aid if PA pursues UN recognition of a future state not defined in direct talks with Israel. The papers said that the resolution coincides with US Senate bill on the same matter on June 29, 2011.

The three dailies highlighted Israeli success in banning international activists from heading to Israel to stop them from going to the West Bank. The stories reported on protests in airports in Paris and other countries in Europe against the Israeli ban.

The papers printed a picture of Israeli police arresting left-wing activists who protests at the arrival hall at Ben Gurion Airport.

Headlines in all dailies featured president Mahmoud Abbas statements on the current PA financial situation. Abbas announced that PA may not be able to pay salaries next month, and warned from strikes or union threats of negative actions that will undermine PA accomplishments.

Al-Quds reported on Israeli rejection of an appeal by the Islamic Endowments (Waqf) to prevent building Israeli offices on 13.5 dunums (1 dunum=1000 square meters) in Sheikh Jarrah neighborhood in East Jerusalem, which are part of the Waqf property for over 500 years.

News from Egypt, Libya and Syria were featured on the front pages as well.

An op-ed in al-Quds tackled US Senate bill threatened cut aid from PA if it sought UN recognition of a Palestinian state and warned from joining Hamas in a national unity government. The author accused US lawmakers of aligning with Israel, saying 'When it comes to showing loyalty to Israel, mind and reason are set aside.'

R.Q.