RAMALLAH, May 5, 2016 (WAFA) – Israeli airstrikes in southern Gaza Strip and the Palestine Liberation Organization Executive Committee’s meeting in Ramallah hit the front page headlines in Palestinian dailies.

The three dailies reported that Israeli warplanes launched several strikes and shelled several locations in Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip.

Al-Hayat al-Jadida reported the UN Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process Nickolay Mladenov as calling for preventing the risk of escalation.

Al-Quds reported a Hamas official as announcing a new Egyptian-sponsored truce, while al-Ayyam highlighted Egyptian and international efforts to prevent escalation.

The meeting of the PLO’s Executive Committee in Ramallah to implement decisions that aim at determining ties with Israel also hit the front page headlines in the dailies.

The three dailies reported Secretary-General of the PLO’s Executive Committee Saed Erekat as announcing the committee’s decision to immediately start implementing the Palestinian Central Council’s decisions regarding determining ties with the Israel, the occupying power.

Al-Quds and al-Ayyam reported the committee also decided to submit a draft resolution to the UN Security Council on Israeli settlement construction in cooperation with all states.

Al-Ayyam and al-Hayat al-Jadida covered President Mahmoud Abbas’ remarks as he received a pharmacists’ delegation from Gaza in Ramallah.

Both reported him as stating that the ballot box (i.e. elections) is the decisive factor that would bring disagreements to an end.

He was also reported in al-Ayyam as expressing his determination to restore Palestinian national unity, while in al-Hayat al-Jadida he explained that efforts were being exerted for this purpose.

Highlighting US presidential race, al-Ayyam reported that Donald Trump seized the mantle of the Republican standard-bearer for the 2016 presidential elections and now faces Hillary Clinton.

Referring to a letter he sent to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, al-Quds quoted Trump as addressing Netanyahu: “I am Israel’s real friend,” and pledging to relocate the US embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem once he assumes his office.

Al-Quds and al-Ayyam reported that US President Barack Obama mulls to outline for his successor his vision or principles for reaching a settlement to the Palestinian-Israeli ‘conflict’.

Highlighting rising tensions at Al-Aqsa Mosque compound in Jerusalem, al-Quds and al-Ayyam reported that a total of 46 Israeli Jewish settlers, intelligence and police officers forced their way into the mosque compound.

Al-Quds and al-Ayyam reported that Israel banned six Palestinian worshippers access into the mosque compound for two months.

Al-Ayyam said Israel is set to open a permanent mission at NATO HQ after Turkey lifted veto.

Al-Hayat al-Jadida reported former Mossad chief Tamir Pardo as saying as the two-state solution becomes increasingly far-fetched, we ]Israelis[ approach the point of no return with Palestinians.

K.F.