RAMALLAH, Monday, January 18, 2021 (WAFA) – The three Palestinian Arabic dailies published today highlighted the meeting yesterday President Mahmoud Abbas held with the heads of the Egyptian and Jordanian intelligence at his Ramallah headquarters.
Al-Hayat al-Jadida daily made this topic its main front-page story and said that President Abbas expressed his appreciation for the efforts by Egypt and Jordan in consolidating intra-Palestinian reconciliation. He also briefed them on the decision to hold national elections starting in May with legislative elections and then in July with presidential elections.
The other two dailies, al-Ayyam and al-Quds, also reported on the meeting on their front page and printed a picture of the president with his guests, but made the Israeli measures in the occupied Palestinian territories as their main front-page story.
Al-Ayyam said in the main story headline that the Israeli occupation authorities have approved the construction of 780 new housing units in its illegal settlements in the West Bank.
Al-Hayat al-Jadida said the European Union has denounced the Israeli decision as a violation of international law.
It quoted presidential spokesman Nabil Abu Rudeineh saying that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is welcoming the new US administration under Joe Biden with settlements.
Al-Quds daily, on the other hand, reported in its main story that the occupation authorities have demolished 11 Palestinian-owned structures west of Jenin in the north of the West Bank and ordered the demolition of a mosque and a school in Masafer Yatta in the south of the West Bank.
Al-Ayyam said Israeli settlers attempted yesterday to abduct 11-year-old Hala Mashhour Qat when they attacked her family home in the village of Madama, south of the northern West Bank city of Nablus, and injured her as her family and neighbors were able to rescue her from the Israeli thugs. The girl was admitted to hospital in Nablus following the attack and was said to have suffered light to medium injuries, in addition to severe shock.
It quoted in another story a senior Fatah leader saying that the political factions are going to discuss the possibility of forming joint lists for the legislative elections planned for May 22.
However, the same paper quoted Hamas officials saying that talk about a joint list is too early, even though al-Quds daily quoted whom it described as an "official Hamas source" in the West Bank saying that the Islamic movement is considering the option of forming a joint list with its rival, Fatah, movement.
Al-Quds printed stories of the Arab League, the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, and the Europeans welcoming the decision to hold elections in the Palestinian territories.
The three dailies also included on their front page more stories on the planned elections in Palestine, the coronavirus toll at home, the region, and abroad, as well as preparation in the United States for a change in the administration amidst high-security tension.
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