RAMALLAH, July 18, 2016 (WAFA) – President Mahmoud Abbas’ remarks during the African Union’s 27th summit in Rwanda hit the front page headlines in the three dailies.
Al-Quds and al-Ayyam said Abbas urged the African Union member states to support the French initiative to organize an international peace conference to solve the Palestinian-Israeli ‘conflict’.
Al-Ayyam and al-Hayat al-Jadida reported Abbas as stating the Middle East Quartet failed to undertake its duties.
He was also reported as stating that peace can only be reached if the Israeli occupation of the Palestinian territories comes to an end.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s crackdown on Turkish soldiers and generals accused of plotting the coup attempt also hit the front pages headlines in Al-Quds and al-Ayyam.
Al-Quds said Erdogan took revenge on his adversaries, detaining thousands.
Al-Ayyam said Erdogan was proceeding with the “clean-up operation” against his adversaries, detaining 6,000 soldiers, officers and judges.
Highlighting Israeli forces’ detention and demolition raids across the West Bank, the three dailies said Israeli forces detained a Palestinian purportedly for carrying explosives near a light rail tram station in Jerusalem.
The Palestinian, in his 20s, reportedly is a resident of the Hebron town of Beit Ula in the southern West Bank.
Al-Quds said Israeli forces delivered stop-construction and demolition notices for a water well in the southern Hebron village of Um Nir and seven houses in the central Jordan Valley area of Frush Beit Dajan.
Forces also sealed several Hebron towns and villages to the south of Hebron with metal gates and earth mounds, according to al-Quds and al-Hayat al-Jadida.
Furthermore, al-Quds highlighted Knesset’s efforts to pass a law that would legalize the confiscation of ‘private’ Palestinian lands in the West Bank for settlement construction.
Al-Ayyam and al-Hayat al-Jadida reported Head of the Central Elections Committee Hanna Nasser as stating that he was assured by all Palestinian factions that the elections results would be respected.
It is worth noting in this regard that the local and municipal elections or polls would be held on October 8 throughout the West Bank and Gaza.
Al-Hayat al-Jadida said an Israeli military court sentenced Muawiya Alqam, 14, to six-and-a-half years in prison after being accused of carrying out a stab attack with his 12-year-old cousin in Jerusalem in November.
It also reported that following his sudden health deterioration, hunger-striking Palestinian detainee Bilal Kayid was rushed to Israel’s Barzilai Medical Center in Ashkelon as he entered his 33rd day without food.
Finally, al-Hayat al-Jadida reported Premier Rami Hamdallah as reiterating that Palestinian security would continue to weed out fugitives and put them to justice.
It is worth noting that Hamdallah’s remarks came just two weeks after several Palestinian young men were killed in disputes in Jenin, Nablus, and occupied East Jerusalem.
K.F.
