RAMALLAH, August 25, 2011 (WAFA) – Developments in Libya and the Israeli attacks on the Gaza Strip dominated the front pages of Thursday’s three Palestinian dailies.

The main top stories in Al-Hayat Al-Jadida and Al-Quds highlighted the developments in Libya, while Al-Ayyam gave them second prominence.

Al-Ayyam’s main story dealt with the Israeli air and land strikes on the Gaza Strip, which claimed the lives of five people (Al-Hayat Al-Jadida had seven, Al-Quds had three) and wounded many more. This story was also highlighted in the other two dailies.

Other front page headlines covered issues such as China backing Palestinian plans to get recognition, which came from China’s Middle East peace envoy following his meeting with presidential secretary Tayyeb Abdul Rahim in Ramallah; and Saeb Erekat, member of the PLO Executive Committee, expressing hope that more than 150 countries will vote with Palestine at the United Nations General Assembly when it meets in September to discuss the issue of recognition of the Palestinian state.

The editorial in Al-Quds focused on the UN bid in September. It said the bid seems imminent in light of Israel’s refusal to acknowledge the reasons that prompted the Palestinians to pursue that path. It added that Israel does not seem ready to stop settlement activities and recognize the Palestinians’ right to statehood within the 1967 borders, and instead it is waging war on Gaza to divert attention from the UN goal.

The opinion pieces in Al-Ayyam and column writers in Al-Hayat Al-Jadida discussed various subjects, ranging from the revolts in Libya and Syria to Israel’s onslaught against the Gaza Strip.

M.A./F.J.