RAMALLAH, Thursday, October 22, 2020 (WAFA) – The ongoing demolitions of Palestinian houses in the West Bank and ongoing settler attacks on olive harvesters hit the front page headlines in the dailies.

Al-Ayyam said that the Israeli occupation forces carried out a large-scale demolition campaign across the West Bank, demolishing several structures and serving demolition orders to others.

Al-Quds and al-Hayat al-Jadida added that the Israeli occupation authorities demolished several houses and structures in the West Bank.

One of the demolished houses is located in al-Khader town, south of Bethlehem, while another house slated for demolition is located in Tuqu‘ town, east of Bethlehem.

The dailies also reported that the occupation forces sealed part of the house Nathmi Abu Baker in Yaabad town, south of Jenin.

Soldiers sealed the bedroom of Abu Baker, 49, who allegedly killed a soldier by dropping a brick onto his head in a predawn raid in the town on May 12, using metal sheets and barbed wire, displacing Abu Baker’s nine-member family.

Al-Quds and al-Hayat al-Jadida printed photos for people inspecting the rubble of the demolished house in al-Khader, and al-Ayyam printed another showing members of Abu Baker family inspecting their house.

Moving to highlight settler attacks on olive harvesters, al-Quds said that Israeli settlers stole the olive harvest of 90 trees picked by Palestinian farmers in Deit al-Hatab village, east of Nablus.

Al-Ayyam added in this regard that settlers prevented farmers from harvesting their trees near Salfit city.

According to al-Quds, Israeli forces rounded up 18 Palestinians in multiple West Bank raids.

Al-Quds and al-Hayat al-Jadida reported the family of the Secretary-General of the PLO Executive Committee Saeb Erekat saying that there has been no change in his health condition.

The Erekat family was also reported in al-Ayyam saying that the PLO official was stable on ECMO.

The dailies highlighted the health condition of Maher al-Akhras, a 49-year-old father of six children who has been on hunger strike for close to 90 days in protest of his administrative detention without charge or trial.

Al-Quds said that al-Akhras has been on hunger strike for 88 days as Palestinians continued to hold rallies in solidarity with him.

Al-Hayat al-Jadida added in this regard that the Palestinian Mission to Geneva sent letters to the United Nations and the International Committee of the Red Cross, warning them against the deterioration of al-Akhras’ health.

Al-Ayyam printed a photo for a group of Jewish figures holding placards reading “Free Maher al-Akhras” besides to al-Akhras’ photos as they participated in a solidarity rally in Hebron.

Acvcording to al-Quds, 139 Israeli settlers forced their way into Jerusalem’s Al-Aqsa Mosque compound, desecrating it.

It added that the settlers’ encroachment came as the so-called “Temple Group” printed a photo of the Dome of the Rock on wine bottle labels.

The dailies reported Health Minister Mai al-Kaileh announcing that 569 Palestinians contracted the novel coronavirus and six others died of it in the occupied territories.

The Foreign Affairs and Expatriates Ministry was reported in al-Quds confirming six new COVID-19 cases among Palestinians in the Diaspora.

On reconciliation efforts, Secretary-General of Fatah Central Committee Jibril Rajoub was reported in al-Quds saying that Fatah had a closed-door dialogue with Hamas leadership.

He was also reported in al-Ayyam saying that building partnership was a national strategic choice and reconciliation begins with the issuance of the presidential decree on elections.

Furthermore, al-Quds said that the Israeli occupation authorities have designated the student bloc of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP) in Birzeit University as “terrorist”.

Al-Quds and al-Ayyam said that an Israeli policeman was charged with mere reckless manslaughter for the deadly shooting of Eyad Hallaq, an autistic Palestinian man, in Jerusalem’s Old City.

According to al-Hayat al-Jadida, President Mahmoud Abbas called the family of Hazem Abu Shanab, a senior member of Fatah Revolutionary Council who passed away recently, offering his condolences.

It added that two Japanese support agreement worth USD$ 33 million were signed in favor of improving Palestinian refugee camps and building a number of schools in the West Bank and Gaza.

It said that Bahraini political associations reiterated their rejection of all forms of normalization with the Israeli occupation.

It reported that Palestinian police and prosecution were investigating the circumstances surrounding the death of three Palestinians in the West Bank as a woman was found killed in Nabi Elias village, east of Qalqilia.

Al-Ayyam reported the World Bank warning that the GDP in the Palestinian territories is expected to contract by 8 percent for 2020, a year which the international organization described as “exceptionally difficult”.

K.F.