RAMALLAH, Wednesday, November 18, 2020 (WAFA) – The Palestinian Authority’s decision to resume coordination with Israel after a six month suspension triggered by Israel’s illegal plan to annex large swaths of the West Bank dominated the front page headlines in the dailies.
Al-Quds reported that the Palestinian Authority’s relations with Israel returned to how they were.
Al-Ayyam reported in this regard that the Palestinian Authority announced the resumption of relations with Israel after it received a letter confirming Israel’s commitment to all agreements signed between the parties.
Civil Affairs Minister Hussein al-Sheikh was reported in al-Hayat al-Jadida arguing and describing the resumption of relations as a great achievement that was the outcome of the Palestinian people and leadership’s steadfastness.
He was also reported saying that Israel committed itself in writing to the signed agreements and arguing that the US-touted Mideast plan, dubbed deal of the century, no longer exists.
Premier Mohammad Shtayyeh’s comments in a Zoom video conference with the US Council on Foreign Relations were highlighted in al-Quds and al-Hayat al-Jadida.
Shtayyeh was reported affirming that the Palestinian government would continue to pay the stipends of the families of prisoners in Israeli custody and slain Palestinians.
Presidency spokesman Nabil Abu Rudeineh was reported in the dailies stating the Palestinian leadership is awaiting the position of the US president-elect Joe Biden’s administration regarding the Arab-Israeli conflict.
He was also reported stating that ]if Biden’s administration recognizes the United Nations resolutions regarding Palestine and takes positions contrary to Trump’s administration,[ the Palestinian leadership will begin in due course to reopen the Palestinian file in the international arena.
The ongoing demolitions of structures as part of Israel’s ethnic cleansing policy of the Palestinian people also hit the front line pages.
Al-Quds and al-Ayyam said that the Israeli occupation authorities demolished a number of Palestinian houses and structures, including water networks, and delivered orders to demolish a number of others in Hebron, the Jordan Valley and Nablus.
They added that three Palestinians were injured by Israeli military gunfire during confrontations in Qalandia refugee camp, north of Jerusalem.
According to al-Quds and al-Ayyam, scores of Israeli settlers forced their way into the site of the former colonial settlement of Sanur, that was evacuated in 2005, planning to “resettle” there.
Highlighting latest statistics on the coronavirus outbreak, the dailies said that 1,158 Palestinians contracted Covid-19 and 11 others died of it in the occupied territories, marking the highest daily number of cases since the pandemic outbreak.
Among the 1,158 new cases, al-Ayyam noted that 486 were recorded in the besieged Gaza Strip.
Health Minister Mai al-Kaileh was reported in al-Hayat al-Jadida denying that the government was considering imposing a total lockdown.
The Foreign Affairs and Expatriates Ministry was reported in al-Quds and al-Ayyam announcing that two Palestinians contracted the virus and two others died of it in the diaspora.
The government spokesman Ibrahim Milhem was reported in al-Quds announcing that the government would pay full salaries for the public servants for November.
Al-Quds said that the Israeli occupation authorities extended the detention of former Jerusalem Affairs Minister Khaled Abu Arafeh.
According to al-Ayyam and al-Hayat al-Jadida, President Mahmoud Abbas received a phone call from Omani Foreign Minister Sayyid Badr bin Hamad al Busaidi.
Al-Hayat al-Jadida said that Fatah and Hamas held a number of Egypt-sponsored meetings and agreed to continue such meetings to discuss pending issues.
K.F.
