RAMALLAH, November 5, 2011 (WAFA) – The Palestinian Arabic dailies Saturday focused on the Israeli navy seizure of two aid boats headed to the Gaza Strip.
Al-Quds newspaper featured the Israeli takeover of the two Canadian and Irish boats, named “Freedom Waves to Gaza,” which were heading to Gaza to break the blockade. The boats were commandeered to Ashdod port in southern Israel without any resistance.
Al-Ayyam chose to highlight on its front page the situation in Syria where 23 people were reported killed by the Syrian regime two days after President Bashar al-Assad agreed to pull out his tanks from the cities, stop the violence and release all prisoners.
The decision by Britain, France, and Colombia to abstain from voting on the Palestinian application for United Nations membership at the Security Council was the main focus of al-Hayat al-Jadida daily.
UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon warned that Israel and the Palestinians are on a new “collision course” and expressed concern over the potential impact of Palestinian membership in UN bodies would have on the work of these organizations for millions of people around the world.
Al-Ayyam and al-Quds reported that dozens of activists were injured in Israeli army attacks at the weekly demonstrations against the Apartheid Wall and settlements, as well as marking the Bulfour Declaration anniversary.
A picture of millions of Muslim pilgrims in Mecca was featured on al-Ayyam daily’s front page, reporting on the beginning of the last rituals of the pilgrimage on Mount Arafat on Saturday.
Al-Quds editorial tackled the Israeli takeover of the Freedom Waves to Gaza boats on Friday, questioning the flimsy excuses Israel uses to justify its blockade on the Strip.
The editorial also addressed the general panic Israel is spreading in the region after reports of a possible Israeli military strike at Iran in the near future. The newspaper called on the international community to put a stop to the Israeli plans and withdraw any nuclear weapons Israel possesses.
R.Q./M.S.
