RAMALLAH, February 5, 2015 (WAFA) – President Mahmoud Abbas’
remarks on the Palestinian Authority’s accession to the International Criminal
Court (ICC) and the ongoing freeze of tax revenues by Israel was the focus of
the three Palestinian Arabic dailies.
Al-Ayyam quoted Abbas stating: “We will not take back or bargain our
accession to the ICC. We have further steps to be proposed during the upcoming
PLO Executive Council’s meeting.”
It also quoted him as stating: “The status quo could not be
maintained.”
Al-Hayat al-Jadida reported on the opening of the Palestine
Broadcasting Corporation’s (PBC) new building in Ramallah. It quoted Abbas who
attended the opening as saying that: “We need an objective media to convey our
message to the world.”
Commenting on the recent gruesome murder of captured Jordanian
fighter pilot Lt. Mu‘az al-Kassasbeh by the so-called Islamic State in Iraq and
Syria group (ISIS), Abbas affirmed: “ISIS’s savagery will not persist as the
public’s willpower is stronger than all criminals.”
Al-Quds reported in this regard that Abbas phoned Jordan’s King
Abdullah II and expressed his condolences and solidarity, while al-Hayat
al-Jadida also reported that Abbas has instructed the Palestinian General
Intelligence service to spare no efforts to confront terrorism and extremism.
Al-Quds printed a photo of Abbas as he paid respects at the
Jordanian Embassy in Ramallah, while al-Hayat al-Jadida printed a photo
featuring him together with Premier Rami Hamdallah inaugurating the new PBC
headquarter in Ramallah.
While al-Ayyam and al-Hayat al-Jadida highlighted Abbas’ remarks in
their main front page news item, al-Quds opted to highlight Jordan’s execution
of two would-be suicide bombers in retaliation for al-Kassasbeh’s burning to
death.
It reported that Sajida al-Rishawi and Ziad al-Karboli were both
hanged early Wednesday, and quoted Abduallah II saying, al-Kasasbeh’s blood
would not be shed in vain and the Jordanian army’s response would come harsh.
Al-Quds also reported in this regard that the burning alive of
al-Kassasbeh was widely condemned by Arab countries as well as Palestinian
official and grass-root institutions.
Both al-Ayyam and al-Hayat al-Jadida printed a photo featuring
Palestinians taking part in a sit-in in solidarity with the Jordanian people in
front of the Jordanian Representative Office in Ramallah.
Highlighting the Israeli occupation practices in the West Bank,
al-Quds reported on Belgium as condemning the construction of new settlement
units in the WB.
Al-Hayat al-Jadida reported that Israeli occupation forces handed
Palestinians notices to demolish wells, detained 15 Palestinians, raided Jenin
district, opened gun fire on Palestinian farmers to the east of Khan Younes and
forced students to leave their school at gun point in the Nablus village of
Al-Sawiya.
It also reported that the Jerusalem Governor’s Office has
successfully prevented the illegal transfer of Palestinian lands in Beit Hanina
and Shu‘fat to Israeli settlers.
Both al-Quds and al-Ayyam reported that defiant Palestinian popular
resistance activists rebuilt a protest tent camp, known as Bawwabat al-Quds
(the Gate to Jerusalem), to the east of Abu Dis.
Al-Quds also said that a senior Israeli military officer (Yoav
Mordechai) visit to the European Union was cancelled.
Highlighting the situation in the Gaza Strip, the three dailies
reported that [Muhammad al-Mughayyir[,
a freelance consultant with the Ramallah-based Representative Office of the
Netherlands, was kidnapped and assaulted by unidentified assailants in Gaza
city.
Al-Ayyam quoted senior Hamas official Mahmoud al-Zahhar as saying:
“Hamas will grant the [Palestinian national consensus [government
another chance, otherwise, it will consider other options.”
It reported on UNRWA warning that the conflict in the Gaza Strip
might break out soon if the current miserable conditions persist.
K.F/M.H
