RAMALLAH, Monday, February 22, 2021 (WAFA) – The Palestinian-Egyptian cooperation to advance the energy sector in Palestine was highlighted on the front page of the three Palestinian Arabic dailies published today.

Al-Ayyam and al-Quds dailies said in their main front-page story headline on this topic that the two sides signed a cooperation memorandum of understanding to develop the natural gas fields off the Gaza shore.

Al-Hayat al-Jadida daily said on this story that went across the entire page that President Mahmoud Abbas thanked his Egyptian counterpart for his efforts in supporting the Palestinian cause, stressing the need to exchange expertise in the natural gas drilling and to benefit from Egypt’s knowledge in this field.

Al-Quds also highlighted an Israeli order to demolish a building in occupied East Jerusalem and the injuries caused to Palestinians as a result of Israeli attacks.

Al-Ayyam said Israeli settlers chopped olive trees near Bethlehem.

Al-Hayat al-Jadida said a court in Nablus ruled that the Balfour declaration of promising Palestine to Jews is null and void since it violates international law.

On the upcoming Palestinian elections, al-Quds said the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine and the People’s Party said they would take part in the legislative elections scheduled for May 22, while the General Command said it would boycott the elections.

It said many have welcomed the freedoms decree issued by President Abbas.

Al-Ayyam quoted Fatah official Hussein al-Sheikh saying that the Palestinian Authority is going to ask Israel to allow the Palestinian prisoners to take part in the elections.

It also said that the European Union denied that it made any statements or threats about cutting aid to the Palestinians if the election were not held, as claimed by some Israeli media.

The paper also said that Hamas is getting ready to hold its internal elections in the West Bank and in the diaspora after launching them in the Gaza Strip.

It also quoted a World Bank report saying that the Palestinian economy has shrunk by 11.5 percent last year mainly as a result of the corona pandemic.

The three dailies highlighted the latest with the coronavirus pandemic in Palestine, the region and the world.

Al-Hayat al-Jadida said eight people have died from coronavirus in Palestine yesterday, 1564 new cases were recorded, and 988 patients have recovered.

It said the Palestinian Foreign Ministry has reopened a location on the internet for people wishing to travel to Jordan to register.

Al-Quds said 20,000 of the Russian Sputnik vaccine arrived in the Gaza Strip yesterday as a donation of the United Arab Emirates and entering through Egypt.

The daily also quoted a source saying that resuming paying salaries to prisoners is facing a big problem.

M.K.