RAMALLAH, Monday, January 11, 2021 (WAFA) – The Israeli measures near and around Al-Aqsa Mosque, Islam’s third holiest site, in occupied Jerusalem were highlighted on the front page of the three Palestinian Arabic dailies published today.
The main front-page story headline in al-Quds daily said: "The occupation is taking advantage of the lockdown in Jerusalem to carry out excavations southwest of Al-Aqsa Mosque."
Al-Ayyam daily’s main front-page story headline said: "New Israeli excavations around Al-Buraq (the southwestern wall of Al-Aqsa Mosque) and attacks on owners of vulnerable land in Silwan (south of Al-Aqsa Mosque).
The third daily, al-Hayat al-Jadida, had this story lower on the front page but also talked about the Israeli excavation in Silwan and the detention of 12 of its Palestinian residents while trying to defend their land.
It said that in Silwan, Palestinians are fighting for their rights against Israeli settlers’ forgeries.
The three papers also said the Israeli settlers have joined in the aggression against Palestinians in the occupied West Bank and their properties and reported about uprooting over 130 olive trees in Qusra village in the north of the West Bank.
Al-Hayat al-Jadida talked in a story about the silent Israeli annexation of the Jordan Valley, and said in another story that Palestinian women are protecting their lands in Bilin village, west of Ramallah, against settlements and settlers.
Al-Hayat al-Jadida highlighted the swearing-in of the new head of the anti-corruption authority, Raed Radwan, and quoted President Mahmoud Abbas saying that fighting corruption is basic for us and no one is above the law.
The paper also quoted Prime Minister Mohammad Shtayyeh stressing after meeting the new head of the Palestinian Monetary Authority (PMA), Firas Milhem, and his deputy, Mohammad Manasra, the professionalism and independence of the PMA in carrying out its duties.
In other headlines, coronavirus in Palestine was highlighted on the front page of al-Ayyam daily which said that 20 people have died of the disease yesterday and 699 new cases were recorded.
It said that long-time political leader, Nabil Shaath, an advisor to President Abbas on foreign and international affairs, was taken to Ramallah hospital yesterday after a relapse in his health. He is 82 years old.
On developments with Palestinian elections, al-Ayyam quoted the head of the Palestinian Central Elections Commission (CEC), Hanna Nasser, saying that holding elections will require 120 days after a decree is issued.
Al-Quds quoted the chief executive officer of the CEC, Hisham Kuheil, saying that a meeting will be held at the end of this week to set a date for issuing the presidential decrees on elections.
It also said that a Hamas delegation headed by Ismail Haniyeh is discussing with the Emir of Qatar intra-Palestinian reconciliation.
Al-Quds also published an interview with the head of the German Representative Office in Ramallah, Christian Clages in which he said that his country supports the two-state solution and convening an international peace conference.
Al-Ayyam said, quoting a senior Palestinian official, that there are no plans for a meeting between the Palestinian and Israeli foreign ministers in Cairo on the side of the meetings of the Munich group that includes the foreign ministers of Egypt, Jordan, France and Germany.
The developments in the United States with calls for impeaching US President Donald Trump were also highlighted on the front page of the three Palestinian Arabic dailies.
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