RAMALLAH, April 14, 2014 – (WAFA)
– Israeli plans to expand the settlement bloc of ‘Gush Etzion’ hit the front
page headlines in the three Palestinian dailies on Monday.
Al-Ayyam said: “The Israeli
occupation announces the seizure of one thousand dunums of ]Palestinian-owned[ land
to expand the settlement bloc of Gush Etzion.”
Al-Hayat Al-Jadida said: “]Israeli Defense Minister Moshe[ Yaʻalon announces the largest settlement
expansion in Gush Etzion.”
Al-Quds described this settlement
expansion in its main front page news article as a ‘legalization’ of this
settlement bloc.
While the settlement expansion
featured the main news articles in Al-Ayyam and Al-Hayat Al-Jadida, Al-Quds
opted to give prominence to allowing Israeli settlers to return into Al-Rajabi
building in Hebron.
It said: “Israeli Defense
Minister officially allows settlers to enter into and seize Al-Rajabi building
in Hebron.”
Al-Ayyam and Al-Quds printed a photo
for Israeli soldiers protecting settlers as they were seizing the building
while Al-Hayat Al-Jadida printed a photo for a settler pointing his hand toward
a group of Palestinians, who were protesting the seizure of the building.
The three dailies reported that
Palestinian negotiators and their Israeli counterparts met without the presence
of US Middle East Peace Envoy Martin Indyk and “finalized their positions.”
They also reported Israeli police
clashed with Palestinian worshipers in the Al-Aqsa Mosque Compound in Jerusalem
on Sunday, injuring and arresting several worshipers.
They also quoted member of Fatah
Central Committee ‘Azzam al-Ahmad as saying: “Fatah delegation is set to visit
Gaza during the next week to bring about reconciliation.”
They also reported that Christian
denominations celebrated Palm Sunday in Jerusalem, while Al-Hayat Al-Jadida
reported that “Israeli occupation’s restrictions reduced the number of
Christians who celebrated the feast.”
Al-Quds also reported in this
regard that heads of the churches of Jerusalem co-issued a letter on the
occasion of the feast of Easter.
Al-Quds and Al-Ayyam reported
that Palestinian Presidency condemned Israeli attacks against the mosque and
warned about its Judaization.
Al-Quds and Al-Hayat Al-Jadida
reported that Israeli forces sealed off West Bank in order to celebrate
the Jewish festival of Passover.
Al-Quds quoted member of Fatah
Central Committee, Nabil Shaʻath, as saying: “We have open-ended options and we
will not be deterred by the Israeli sanctions from international political
action.”
Al-Quds and Al-Hayat Al-Jadida
reported that Palestinian prisoners ended their hunger strike after Israel
ended the solitary confinement of Ibrahim Hamed, a Palestinian prisoner.
Al-Quds reported that a person
was shot and injured by Israeli forces in northern Gaza and that Israeli forces
stormed several areas, including Aida refugee camp in the West Bank.
Al-Quds quoted Leader of the
British Opposition Leader Party David Miliband as saying: “Recognizing the Palestinian
state is the base for successful negotiations and ]Israeli[ settlements are illegal and constitute
an obstacle to peace.”
Al-Ayyam and Al-Hayat Al-Jadida
reported that President Mahmoud Abbas received a phone call from United Nations
Secretary General Ban Ki-moon.
Regionally, Al-Ayyam reported the
Arab League and Kuwait approved a plan to implement resolutions taken in the
last Arab summit.
Al-Ayyam quoted Palestinian
Ambassador to the US Maʻen Erekat as saying: “US Congress makes growing calls
for ceasing financial aid to the Palestinian Authority.”
Al-Hayat Al-Jadida reported that
Israeli ministers ‘opened fire’ on their economy counterpart Naftali Bennett,
who called upon Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to annex settlement
blocs and whom Al-Ayyam quoted as saying: “Time of Oslo Accords has gone by.”
Al-Ayyam reported that “the
Israeli occupation forces installed machine guns equipped with cameras to the
north of Bethlehem.”
K.F./M.N./T.R.
