RAMALLAH, Thursday, May 18, 2023 (WAFA) – The large number of Israeli occupation forces deployed in occupied Jerusalem to secure the provocative settlers’ flags march planned for today in and around Jerusalem’s Old City was highlighted on the front page of the three Palestinian Arabic dailies published today.

All the papers said in the main front-page story on this topic that Jerusalem was turned into a military barracks with forces deployed everywhere in the city.

Al-Hayat al-Jadida daily said the Palestinian presidency has condemned holding the march, warning it could lead to an explosion in the situation.

The paper also reported on the confrontations in Nablus and the demolition of a residential building and a house in Silwan and Jabal al-Mukabber neighborhoods in East Jerusalem and a room in Qalqilya.

It quoted Prime Minister Mohammad Shtayyeh saying Israel steals two-thirds of the Palestinian underground water and sells it back to the Palestinians at double the cost.

Al-Ayyam daily said a new Israeli law banning hoisting the Palestinian flag was passed in a preliminary reading in the parliament.

Al-Quds quoted Foreign Minister Riyad Malki saying in an interview that there is an Arab consensus to support the Palestinian people and cause. It said that the upcoming Arab summit in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, will bring the Syrian president back to the diplomatic forefront.

It also quoted the head of the Islamic Jihad, Ziad Nakhaleh, saying that his movement forced a strong agreement written letter by letter that led to the ceasefire in Gaza last week.

M.K.