RAMALLAH, July 17, 2011 (WAFA) – The three Arabic dailies focused Sunday on President Mahmoud Abbas’ statements regarding the Palestinian Authority’s (PA) financial crisis.

Al-Hayat Al-Jadida, Al-Ayyam and Al-Quds headlines read: “PA may not be able to pay half the salaries next month.” 

The three dailies reported on Abbas’ visit to Norway where he discussed the latest developments in the peace process, after the Quartet’s failure to prepare to resume negotiations in accordance with international legitimacy.

Al-Ayyam’s front page reported on US proposals to the Quartet during its last meeting and exclusively quoted western diplomatic sources as saying: “Washington proposals indicate US administration’s retreat from Obama’s speech.”

New US proposals oppose the Palestinian bid to seek UN recognition of a Palestinian state next September and include recognizing Israel as a Jewish state.

Quartet representative and former British prime minister, Tony Blair, told Al-Ayyam that the Quartet continues to make efforts to resume Palestinian-Israeli negotiations.

Al-Quds’ front page published a UN report warning of an upcoming disaster due to the increase in water salinity and pollution in the Gaza Strip.

Al-Ayyam and Al-Quds published pictures of an olive tree set on fire by Israeli soldiers in a village northwest of Jerusalem.

R.Q./F.J.