RAMALLAH, November 23, 2011 (WAFA) – The focus of Wednesday’s issues of the three Palestinian Arabic dailies was the address by the Chairman of the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces of Egypt, Mohammad Tantawi, to the nation on Tuesday.
Headlines in the dailies varied from reporting on Tantawi’s acceptance of the resignation of Essam Sharaf's government, to announcing parliamentary and presidential elections before June 2012, and the opposition protests in Tahrir Square demanding Tantawi’s removal.
The newspapers featured Tantawi’s address, where he said that the outgoing cabinet will continue fulfilling their obligations until a new cabinet is formed, and the army will hand over power to a civilian administration, should the people so wish in a public referendum.
Al-Hayat al-Jadida printed an aerial snapshot of tens of thousands of Egyptians gathered in Tahrir Square in Cairo, whereas al-Ayyam printed a closer shot of a female protester raised on shoulders and chanting against the military rule.
Al-Ayyam reported on its front page on the briefing by the Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process, Robert Serry, to the Security Council on Monday, where he warned of danger to the Palestinian Authority and the two-state solution if a meaningful diplomatic path is not found forward.
The news piece subtitle said the donors will assess the content of any reconciliation agreement between Fatah and Hamas once the Palestinians agree on it.
Al-Quds daily chose to highlight the rising concern among Palestinian prisoners in Israeli prisons, with the approaching time of releasing 550 prisoners in the second stage of the Gilad Shalit prisoners’ swap deal between Hamas and Israel.
The prisoners expressed fear that Israel will release prisoners nearing the end of their sentence, instead of the ill and long-serving prisoners, and the nine female prisoners not included in the first stage of the deal.
Al-Ayyam featured President Mahmoud Abbas’ meeting with Arab League Secretary-General, Nabil el-Araby, and Chief of the Egyptian Intelligence Service, Morad Mwafy, on Tuesday in Cairo, as well as reaffirmation of Abbas’ anticipated meeting with Hamas leader Khaled Mishaal on Thursday.
R.Q./F.J.
