RAMALLAH, October 4, 2011 (WAFA) – The three Palestinian Arabic dailies Tuesday featured President Mahmoud Abbas' meeting with US Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta in the presidential headquarters in Ramallah on Monday.

Al-Ayyam and al-Hayat al-Jadida's front page stories quoted Panetta saying that “Israel is becoming more internationally isolated because of the Arab spring.”

Al-Quds’ front page story reported on Abbas’ approval to resume bilateral negotiations only if Israel commits to freezing settlement activities and establishing a Palestinian state within 1967 borders.

The three dailies printed photos of Abbas and Panetta's meeting in the presidential headquarters in Ramallah, in which they discussed the US government's efforts to resume direct negotiations between the Palestinians and Israel, and the US Congress decision to block financial aid to the Palestinians.

Al-Ayyam and al-Hayat al-Jadida reported on the demonstration in Ramallah yesterday in solidarity with Palestinian prisoners.

The dailies printed photos of the demonstration, in which the prisoners' families held Palestinian flags and pictures of prisoners.

Al-Quds reported on the Israeli magistrate court decision to release Palestinian lawmaker, Ahmad Atton, who was arrested one week ago from a demonstration tent in front of the international Red Cross in East Jerusalem, on the condition of his expulsion from East Jerusalem.    

An al-Quds editorial discussed Israel’s growing international isolation due to recent events such as the Arab Spring and the Israeli decision to build 1100 housing units in East Jerusalem.

It asked: “When will the Israeli government wake up from its long slumber? When will it start listening to its ‘friends'’ advice? Israel's isolation is rapidly growing and may escalate even further.” 

M.H./F.J.