RAMALLAH, Monday, March 29, 2021 (WAFA) – The three Palestinian Arabic dailies highlighted on their front page today two pandemics in Palestine: the recent coronavirus and the long-term and endless Israeli occupation.
Al-Ayyam and al-Hayat al-Jadida had the coronavirus pandemic as their top front-page story and said that 24 people have died of the disease yesterday and 1714 new cases were recorded in Palestine, with al-Ayyam adding that the situation in the Gaza Strip is getting very critical.
While the third daily, al-Quds, also reported on the corona pandemic and quoted Health Minister Mai Alkaila saying that there was a decline in the number of corona cases in the West Bank as her ministry is getting ready to receive 125,00 more doses of the corona vaccine, its top front-page story focused on the second pandemic, the 54-year-long Israeli occupation and its impact on the life of Palestinians in the occupied territories.
It said that colonial Israeli settlers set up a tent on Palestinian-owned land in Taquo village in the south of the West Bank in order to take it over, while others attacked Palestinian civilians, damaged cars and property, injured one in Kufr al-Dik in the north of the West Bank, and Israeli soldiers seized a tractor while working on a land, also in the north of the West Bank.
At the same time, said the paper, a Palestinian man from Jerusalem was shot and injured on allegations he attempted to run over soldiers, as Israeli police prevented a Mother’s Day cultural event in occupied East Jerusalem.
Al-Hayat al-Jadida had a story from the occupied Jordan Valley and said that the Israeli occupation authorities are continuing to terrorize the Palestinian residents of the vulnerable Jordan Valley in an effort to displace them and take over the rich lands.
On the upcoming Palestinian elections, al-Quds said efforts failed to form a united list of the leftist forces for the legislative elections planned for May 22.
On the aftermath of the Israeli elections held last week, al-Ayyam said Israel is still looking for a new government.
Al-Hayat al-Jadida said Foreign Minister Riyad Malki welcomed the Chinese initiative for peace in the Middle East while al-Quds quoted the Chinese ambassador to Palestine saying the initiative is a comprehensive and realistic plan for a just peace.
The three papers also reported on Palm Sunday procession in Jerusalem, which ushers in the start of the Easter holiday for the Catholic Church.
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