RAMALLAH, June 27, 2013 (WAFA) – On the eve of US Secretary of State John Kerry’s visit to the region, his fifth since he took office in March, Israel is receiving him with more construction in the illegal settlements, said the three Palestinian Arabic dailies on Thursday.

The headline in the main story in al-Hayat al-Jadida said: “Kerry arrives today and Israel receives him with 69 settlement units in Jerusalem.”

Al-Ayyam and al-Quds highlighted as well the Israeli decision to build 69 units in the settlement of Har Homa (Jabal Abu Ghneim) in East Jerusalem.

On Kerry’s visit as well, al-Ayyam quoted Kerry saying that he wants to see progress in the negotiation before September. It said that the PLO, which is headed by Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, insists on settlement freeze before the start of any negotiations with Israel.

The papers also carried statements Abbas made to al-Jazeera in which he expressed hope that Kerry would bring with him something new and important while stressing that a two-state solution on the 1967 borders should be the base for any negotiations.

Al-Hayat al-Jadida quoted a Finnish official in Gaza condemning the Israeli blockade.

It also reported in a different story on the conflict between Hamas and the Islamic Jihad and said that the latter agreed to resume contacts with Hamas after an apology by Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh.

The conflict started after Hamas gunmen killed earlier this week a senior member of the Islamic Jihad in Gaza.

The same paper also said that Kuwait has given an official approval for using the Palestinian passport.

The developments in Qatar, Egypt and Syria were also highlighted on the front page of the three dailies.

M.S.