RAMALLAH, November 24, 2016 (WAFA) – Israeli plans to construct 500 new housing units to expand Ramat Shlomo settlement built on land from Shufat neighborhood in East Jerusalem was the main front page story in two of the three Palestinian Arabic dailies on Thursday.

Al-Quds and al-Ayyam highlighted this story while al-Hayat al-Jadida made the story about the health conditions of two Palestinian hunger strikers in Israeli prison as its main front page subject.

It said the health of Anas Shadid and Ahmad Abu Farah, who have been on a hunger strike for over 60 days in protest against their detention without charge or trial, has deteriorated.

Highlighting his monthly briefing to the UN Security Council, al-Quds and al-Ayyam reported special coordinator for the Middle East peace process, Nickolay Mladenov, as urging Israel to heed calls to halt settlement construction.

Al-Ayyam and al-Hayat al-Jadida reported presidential spokesman Nabil Abu Rudeineh as stating Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s remarks on peace-making contradict with his government’s decisions to expand settlements.

Al-Ayyam and al-Hayat al-Jadida said an Israeli court in Jerusalem sentenced a Palestinian teenage girl, identified as Nurhan Awwad, 17, to 13 and a half years in prison and a fine of about $7,800 after finding her guilty of attacking and stabbing Israelis in Jerusalem.

Highlighting West Bank raids, al-Quds said Israeli military raided the area surrounding al-Quds University in Abu Dis, east of Jerusalem, triggering clashes with students.

It added forces showered students with tear gas canisters, causing many to suffer the effects of tear gas inhalation.

Furthermore, al-Quds and al-Hayat al-Jadida said President Mahmoud Abbas received a delegation from representatives of Japanese companies.

Al-Hayat al-Jadida reported him as stating the Palestinian economy has multiple investment benefits.

Highlighting demolition of Palestinian homes inside Israel, al-Ayyam said Israeli authorities demolished three Palestinian homes in the Israeli city of al-Lydda (Lod), purportedly for being built without a license.

It said in a news article that Washington has demanded from Israel to open a criminal investigation into the army killing of Mahmoud Shaalan, 16, in the village of Deir Dibwan. Shaalan is an American citizen. Soldiers claimed Shaalan attacked them with a knife and therefore he was shot dead.

The paper published an interview with Saeb Erekat, secretary general of the executive committee of the Palestine Liberation Organization and member of Fatah Central Committee, who spoke about the upcoming Fatah conference in addition to other current political issues.

Al-Hayat al-Jadida also gave space to the Fatah conference, interviewing senior members about the issues to be discussed in the meeting scheduled for November 29.

The paper also has a story about a gang caught in Jericho whose members steal skulls and use them to make drugs.

The dailies printed pictures on their front page of the fires raging in different places in Israel.

K.F./M.K.