RAMALLAH, October 8, 2011 (WAFA) – The three Palestinian Arabic dailies highlighted Saturday President Mahmoud Abbas’ address at the Dominican Republic parliament, the weekly non-violent West Bank demonstrations against Israel’s apartheid wall and settlements, and an Israeli plan to expand an East Jerusalem settlement.

Al-Hayat al-Jadida’s prime headline quoted Abbas from Santo Domingo as saying “We didn’t give up; it’s natural that a living nation won’t give up.” He stressed that the Israeli government and settlers have crossed all line in their racist ethnic cleansing policy against Muslim and Christian Arabs in East Jerusalem.

Abbas announced that the Palestinian Authority intends to open an embassy in Santo Domingo and was conferred the 'Order of Merit of Duarte, Sanchez and Mella,' the highest and principal honor of the Dominican Republic, added the newspaper.

Al-Ayyam daily reported on dozens of people hurt, mainly from suffocation caused by tear gas fired by Israeli soldiers, among them Palestinians and international activists who participated in the weekly protests marches against the wall and settlements across the West Bank.

Al-Quds newspaper was the only one to report about a decision by the Israeli municipality of West Jerusalem to build 300 housing units in Pisgat Zeev, a settlement build in occupied East Jerusalem. The report was taken from the Hebrew weekly, Kol Ha’ir.

The three dailies also reported on the escalating situation in Syria where 20 civilians were killed on Friday by President Bashar Al-Assad’s troops.

R.Q./M.S.