RAMALLAH, July 16, 2012 (WAFA) – Saudi Arabia’s decision to transfer $100 million to the Palestinian Authority in budget support on Sunday and President Mahmoud Abbas’ welcome of the grant was the main front page focus of the Monday issue of al-Hayat al-Jadida Arabic newspaper.

A report by the Paris-based French daily Libération emphasizing the scientific impossibility of finding residues of radioactive polonium  in the body of the late Palestinian leader, Yasser Arafat, eight years after his death in 2004, was the dominating article in al-Quds’ front page. The daily also reported that Arafat’s widow will launch legal actions against persons unknown for his poisoning.

Al-Ayyam was the only newspaper to highlight reports featuring the recent clashes in Syria, including the shelling of several neighborhoods in the capital Damascus, which was described as the “most violent” since the outbreak of the revolt and the Syrian government violent crackdown against protesters 16 months ago.

Al-Quds reported that Hamas movement made significant cabinet shuffle in its de-facto government in the Gaza Strip and printed a photo of Hamas leader Khaled Meshaal and Moroccan Prime Minister Abdelilah Benkirane at the opening of the first conference of Morocco’s ruling Party of Justice and Development (PJD), in Rabat on Sunday.

The three dailies featured statements by presidency spokesman Nabil Abu Rudeineh stressing that the alleged audio tape Wikileaks released of US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton saying “the Palestinian people deserve a better leadership to achieve peace” is completely untrue.

Al-Ayyam reported from Egypt the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces of Egypt, Mohammad Tantawi, and US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton’s meeting.

R.Q./F.R.