RAMALLAH, May 9, 2015 (WAFA) – Israeli forces’ suppression of
weekly Friday marches protesting settlement construction and the wall across
the West Bank hit the front pages headlines in Palestinian dailies.
Covering the weekly marches as its main front page news item, both
al-Quds and al-Ayyam reported that dozens of Palestinians suffered excessive
tar gas inhalation and were injured as Israeli occupation forces suppressed the
weekly peaceful marches across the West Bank.
Al-Quds and al-Ayyam printed a photo featuring a group of
Palestinian young men confronting Israeli forces using stones during clashes in
the Nablus village of Kufr Qaddoum.
Al-Quds printed two other photos featuring a Palestinian being
assaulted by Israeli forces in the Bethlehem village of al-Ma‘sara and
Palestinians waiving Palestinian flags and protesting settlement construction
in the Ramallah village of al-Nabi Saleh.
The three dailies also reported that two Palestinians were injured,
including a critical injury, after being shot by Israeli forces in the Gaza
Strip.
On the other hand, al-Hayat al-Jadida newspaper reported on the
situation in East Jerusalem as its main front page news item.
It, together with al-Quds, reported that a Palestinian residential
building was partly demolished by Israeli police in East Jerusalem.
It also reported that excavations are being carried out by Israeli
occupation authorities in the East Jerusalem complex of al-Shihabi adjoining
the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound, slamming the demolition and excavations as an
‘escalation’.
It further reported that residents of the East Jerusalem village of
al-Z‘ayyim protested against closing the iron gate installed on the road
connecting the village with the city.
It reported that an extremist Salafist group claimed responsibility
for a mortar attack against Hamas’ armed wing base in the southern Gaza Strip.
It reported Hamas as denying that the attack took place and
witnesses verifying that they heard two explosions.
The three dailies reported that President Mahmoud Abbas has arrived
to Russia to participate in the events marking the 70th anniversary
of victory over Nazism in WWII.
The three dailies reported that the US has expressed its opposition
to Israeli settlement construction plans in ‘Ramat Shlomo’ settlement in East
Jerusalem. Al-Hayat al-Jadida reported that Russia has also expressed
opposition.
Al-Quds reported that attempting to counter international pressure
he is subject to regarding settlement and the establishment of Palestinian
state, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is prepared to launch a misleading
campaign, pretending to deal positively with the Arab Peace Initiative until US
President Barack Obama ends his term.
On the same issue, the other two newspapers reported that Netanyahu
intends to promote the concept of regional peace in order to evade pressures on
settlement and peace.
Al-Ayyam reported that Netanyahu has pledged to Jewish Home leader
Naftali Bennett that he would legalize settlement outposts and buildings in the
West Bank.
It quoted member of Fatah Central Committee and head of Palestinian
commission of inquiry into the death of former Palestinian President Yasser
Arafat as announcing that the commissions of inquiry would meet Sunday in
Ramallah.
It reported that the EU has transferred €25 million in support of
Palestinian hospitals in East Jerusalem.
Al-Hayat al-Jadida reported that the Unified European Left Group
has called for suspending the partnership agreement with Israel.
It also reported that the EU has congratulated Netanyahu and called
him to resume peace talks.
K.F./T.R.
