RAMALLAH, July 10, 2011 (WAFA) – The three Arabic dailies focused Sunday on different issues: the Israeli army attack on a protest against the Apartheid Wall at Qalandia checkpoint, the Anti-Corruption Commission’s decision to lift immunity from a number of Palestinian ministers and the international activists detained in Israel waiting to be deported.

Al-Quds’ main story reported on dozens of injuries among Palestinians and international solidarity activists in an Israeli army attack on a protest at Qalandia checkpoint. The protest demanded the removal of the checkpoint and the Apartheid Wall that Israel is building around East Jerusalem. Israeli soldiers shot tear gas and rubber bullets at the protesters.

AL-Hayat Al-Jadida’s prime headline featured the Head of the Palestinian Anti-Corruption Commission, Rafiq al-Natsheh’s decision to lift immunity from a number of ministers to investigate corruption charges against them. The story said President Mahmoud Abbas approved the decision.

Al-Ayyam’s front page reported on 124 pro-Palestinian international activists that were banned from entering Israel and were arrested and detained in Israeli jails. The headline said Israel will deport the activists shortly.

Al-Quds and Al-Ayyam reported on the Quartet’s anticipated meeting on Monday, to avoid a crisis in September.

News on the declaration of independence of the Republic of South Sudan made it to the newspapers’ front pages as well.

Al-Hayat Al-Jadida’s front page story featured Britain’s grant of $420 million to the Palestinian Authority (PA) for the next three years. The story featured Prime Minister Salam Fayyad signing a memorandum of understanding with the British Minister of State for International Development, Alan Duncan.

The paper also reported France’s pledge to grant the PA $100 million in 2012.

Hani Habib wrote an op-ed in Al-Ayyam newspaper analyzing Natsheh’s statements of lifting immunity from several ministers on charges of corruption. Habib criticized the mysterious announcement and the anonymity of the ministers’ names, and called for bringing at least one official to public trial.

Habib questioned the possibility of “hidden corruption beneath the allegations,” noting that the accusations might aim to question the government’s credibility during a severe financial crisis.

R.Q./F.J.