RAMALLAH, May 20, 2015 (WAFA) – The sixth International Islamic Congress
dedicated to Jerusalem and held in Bethlehem alongside the demolition of three homes
in the East Jerusalem neighborhood of Silwan dominated the three Palestinian Arabic
dailies on Wednesday.
Al-Quds reported that the sixth international Islamic congress under
the name, Jerusalem (Beit al-Maqdes), was held in Bethlehem under the
sponsorship of President Mahmoud Abbas.
It said the attendees stressed Jerusalem’s identity as an Arab and
Islamic city and the need to support its residents who face regular Israeli violations
aimed to Judize the city and obliterate its identity.
Al-Hayat al-Jadida added in this regard that Premier Rami Hamdallah
has called for the Islamic scholars’ rule urging Muslims to visit Jerusalem to
be implemented.
It also reported on Abbas stressing the importance of visiting
Palestine and Al-Aqsa Mosque compound by Arab and Islamic delegations, during
his meeting with Turkish Minister of Religious Affairs Mohammad Kormaz.
Covering ongoing demolition of Palestinian homes by Israeli forces
across the West Bank, especially in East Jerusalem, al-Quds reported that
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu affirmed his intention to continue to
build settler units in East Jerusalem.
Al-Quds and al-Ayyam reported that three Palestinian-owned stores
and a house under construction were demolished by Israeli occupation forces in
the East Jerusalem neighborhood of Silwan and that settlers verbally and
physically assaulted the Islamic Waqf-appointed guards of the mosque.
Al-Ayyam added that Netanyahu’s government has taken a new decision
to Judaize Jerusalem; meanwhile al-Quds added that two new Israeli police
stations were opened in the Old City of Jerusalem.
Al-Ayyam reported that FIFA leader Sepp Blatter is scheduled to
meet Abbas in Ramallah on Wednesday.
Highlighting EU’s High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security
Policy Federica Mogherini’s Middle East visit, al-Ayyam reported that Mogherini
will explore the positions of both the Israeli and Palestinian sides before the
EU assesses the situation.
Discussing the Israeli Supreme court’s ruling
giving the green light to military orders to demolish the southern West Bank
village of Susya and the Naqab village of Um al-Hiran, al-Ayyam quoted Human
Rights Watch slamming the rule as providing legal cover up for forced
evictions.
“It is a sad day when Israeli
Supreme Court’s decisions provide legal cover up for forced evictions,” the
organization was quoted as stating in al-Hayat al-Jadida.
Responding to Netanyahu’s claims that his
government would seek to reach a settlement with the Palestinians that would
contribute to safeguarding US interests in the region, PLO Executive Committee
member Saeb Erekat was quoted in al-Hayat al-Jadida as saying that there is no means
to deal with a government that builds settlements and sabotages the peace
process but to bring charges against it at the International Criminal Court.
K.F/M.H
