RAMALLAH, February 6, 2013 (WAFA) – Israeli demolition of ancient structures in the Old City of Jerusalem as well as demolition of Palestinian homes in other neighborhoods of the occupied city was highlighted on the front page in the three Palestinian Arabic dailies on Wednesday.
It also highlighted on the front page Israeli demolition of a home in Beit Hanina, an East Jerusalem neighborhood. It printed a picture of two bulldozers destroying the home.
Al-Hayat al-Jadida printed a more close up picture of a bulldozer destroying the Palestinian home in Beit Hanina and another picture showed a child yelling in anger at the scene of the bulldozer tearing down her family home.
The paper’s top front page story touched on the Israeli destruction of Palestinian property, whether that came from the official establishment or from extremist settlers, who set two cars on fire in the Ramallah area village of Deir Jarir and sprayed racist slogans in the area.
Al-Ayyam reported on the Israeli measures against the Palestinians on its front page as well and printed a picture of a boy screaming after he saw his family’s demolished home.
However, the main story in al-Ayyam was on the decision of US President Barack Obama to visit the Middle East next month, which will take him to Palestine, Israel and Jordan. The headline said Obama will try to re-launch Palestinian-Israeli negotiations.
Al-Quds said US Secretary of State John Kerry is going to ask Congress to release $200 million in aid to the Palestinians it had earlier frozen.
Al-Hayat al-Jadida printed on its front page a story from Maan news agency quoting Minister of Finance Nabeel Kassis talking about the need to cut expenses. It also quoted Bassam Zakarneh, head of the union of public employees, saying that the government intends to stop raises and turn 13,000 of its employees to retirement.
M.S./F.R.
