RAMALLAH, September 15, 2011 (WAFA) – The three Palestinian Arabic dailies focused Thursday on President Mahmoud Abbas’ meetings with the chairman of the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces of Egypt, Mohamed Tantawi, and Turkish Prime Minister Recep Erdogan in Cairo on Wednesday.
Al-Hayat al-Jadida’s prime story reported that Abbas met with Tantawi and Erdogan separately and discussed the Palestinian bid to seek full United Nations membership of a Palestinian state based on 1967 borders later this month, as well as the current situation in the Palestinian Territory.
Abbas, during an interview with the Egyptian television, called on the Arab countries to employ Friday, September 23, as the day to support the Palestinian bid, because “this is the day of the Palestinian and Arab request to UN.”
Al-Quds’ front page reported on US and international last-minute attempts to thwart the Palestinian bid to UN and resume the Palestinian-Israeli negotiations, including US officials David Hale and Denis Ross’ visit to meet with Abbas and the Israeli prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu.
The daily featured the European Union foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton’s plan, which included granting the Palestinians a permanent observer status in UN, obliging the Mideast quartet to issue a statement taking into consideration the Palestinian and Israel demands, as well as guaranteeing UN Secretary-General’s commitment to a feature UN recognition of a Palestinian state. Israel rejected the plan, added al-Quds.
An Israeli anticipation of defeat in the General Assembly vote to grant membership for a Palestinian state based on 1967 borders topped al-Ayyam’s front page. The news piece quoted an Israeli official saying his government refuses to “resume negotiations with Palestinians based on 1967 borders.”
Al-Ayyam also reported on the Israeli foreign minister, Avigdor Lieberman's warnings of grave consequences to the Palestinians if they head to the UN.
The three dailies featured surprising calls to continue US financial support to the Palestinian Authority, especially the aid to Palestinian security forces, by two American pro-Israel Jewish groups after several congressmen had threatened to cut off financial aid to PA if they go to the UN.
News from Syria and Libya made it to the three dailies’ front pages as well.
An opinion peace in al-Ayyam daily by Talal Okal criticized the current Arab stance from the Palestinian bid, stressing that Palestinians need more than “talk” and “Arab League meetings.” Okal called for a stronger and bolder Arab stance to oppose the ongoing US and Israeli threats, as well as to positively influence the EU’s united position toward the Palestinian bid.
Okal also said that the Palestinian cover up for the weak Arab or European stances doesn’t help them face the challenges ahead.
R.Q./M.S.
