RAMALLAH, October 27, 2016 (WAFA) – The UNESCO’s vote on a resolution reaffirming the status quo of Al-Aqsa Mosque compound as a Muslim holy site of worship hit the front page headlines in Palestinian dailies.

Al-Quds said UNESCO refused to use “Temple Mount” in reference to the mosque compound and called upon Israel to facilitate reconstruction works of the mosque compound.

Al-Ayyam and al-Hayat al-Jadida said the UNESCO adopted a new resolution reaffirming the status quo of the mosque compound (as a Muslim holy site of worship).

Al-Ayyam added the resolution slammed Israeli violations and hailed it as a victory for Palestine, while al-Hayat al-Jadida hailed it as a second diplomatic defeat for Israel.

Highlighting Israeli uproar, al-Quds said Israeli police recommended permitting members of Israeli parliament, the Knesset, to storm the mosque compound.

Highlighting Israel’s diplomatic campaign that targeted foreign ministers and heads of UNESCO member states, al-Ayyam revealed Israel attempted to foil the resolution through Croatian and Tanzanian ambassadors.

While al-Ayyam and al-Hayat al-Jadida covered the resolution in their front page news items, al-Ayyam opted to spotlight demolition of Palestinian homes in Jerusalem.

It said Israeli bulldozers demolished a Palestinian four-apartment building and three homes in the Beit Hanina area of al-Ashqariya and the Silwan area of al-Sal‘a under the pretext of unlicensed building.

Al-Ayyam added the Israeli-enforced demolitions left scores of Palestinians homeless.

It said Israeli occupation forces forced 13 Palestinian families to leave their homes to make way for Israeli military drills in the northern Jordan Valley locality of Khirbet Ras al-Ahmar.

Highlighting new settlement construction plans, al-Quds said Israeli approved the construction of 180 new settler units in the Gilo settlement, south of Jerusalem.

Al-Quds covered an update by Peace Now settlement watch on the construction of a new settlement outpost on a total of recently seized 33 dunums in the northern Jordan Valley.

It reported Peace Now as stating the new outpost is meant to be used as a bargaining chip by settlers to demand Israeli government to demolish more Palestinian homes if it seeks to evacuate them.

It said Kuwait provided $16,685,000 in the last payment for the reconstruction of demolished Palestinian homes in the blockaded Gaza Strip.

Finally, al-Ayyam and al-Hayat al-Jadida covered Prime Minister Rami Hamdallah’s participation in the fourth meeting of the joint Palestinian-German ministerial steering committee in Berlin.

Al-Ayyam said Palestinian and German officials agreed to promote cooperation to achieve the two-state solution.

Al-Hayat al-Jadida reported Hamdallah as stating Palestinian-German cooperation not only involves development, but it also includes partnership for peace. It is worth noting Hamdallah made these remarks during a press conference with German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier.

K.F.