RAMALLAH, October 5, 2011 (WAFA) – The three Palestinian Arabic dailies Wednesday highlighted the Palestinian prisoners’ open hunger strike on its ninth day.

Al-Hayat al-Jadida reported on its front page that four more Palestinian prisoners joined the hunger strike, which began last Wednesday in protest of the Israeli prison administration’s solitary confinement policy and humiliating practices against Palestinian prisoners.

The newspaper printed a picture of a demonstration supporting the prisoners in Hebron, following their announcement of continuing the hunger strike until the Israeli prison administration meets their demands, which caused serious concern for their families and the public in general who started activities in support of the prisoners.

The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) vote to grant “Partner for democracy” status to the Palestinian National Council on Tuesday was featured on al-Quds’ front page next to a picture of the Speaker of the Palestinian National Council, Salim Al-Za'noon, and PACE President Mevlüt Cavusoglu after the vote.

A subtitle in the news piece also quoted international sources that Palestine will become a full member of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) later this month.

Al-Ayyam daily reported on its front page on the US administration’s “intensive consultations” to release $200 million worth of aid for the Palestinian Territory, which members of the US Congress have blocked until the issue of the Palestinian application for full United Nations membership of a Palestinian state is solved.

President Mahmoud Abbas upcoming tour to Europe and Latin America to rally international support for the Palestinian request for statehood membership at the UN Security Council was featured on al-Hayat al-Jadida’s front page.

Al-Quds reported that the Quartet’s envoys will meet in Brussels next Sunday in an attempt to push forward the halted Palestinian-Israeli peace talks.

R.Q./F.J.