RAMALLAH, December 12, 2016 (WAFA) – The three Palestinian Arabic dailies highlighted on their Monday front page issues the terrorist attacks in Cairo and Istanbul.
The main front page headlines were more or less common between all three dailies with al-Quds and al-Ayyam focusing on the terrorist attack at a Coptic church in Cairo that left more than 20 people dead while al-Hayat al-Jadida reported on both attacks in Cairo and Istanbul for a total of 61 dead, according to the paper.
The three papers, which printed photos of the attacks, said President Mahmoud Abbas has condemned both attacks and sent his condolences to the Egyptian and Turkish governments and people.
Al-Ayyam printed names of seven Palestinians from the West Bank killed allegedly during an attack whose corpses have been held by Israel for some time after a decision was made to turn them over to their families for burial. Israel is contemplating release of three more corpses out of 26 still held in refrigerators as sort of punishment for their families for carrying out an attack.
The same paper said in another story that a video on the internet showed members of the Palestinian national security and police preventing an Israeli army unit from entering the northern West Bank city of Jenin. Normally Israel would coordinate with the Palestinians any activity for its forces inside Palestinian cities to avoid direct confrontation between them, as was the case in Jenin.
It also said that the Israeli military prosecutor rejected an appeal to release the two hunger striking prisoners, Anas Shadid and Ahmad Abu Farah, held in administrative detention and to move them to a Palestinian hospital in Ramallah for treatment after almost 80 days of fast. The two are awaiting a decision by the Israeli High Court regarding their future.
Al-Quds said Fatah and Hamas leaders are preparing to meet in Geneva to discuss reconciliation. It said the Palestinian think tank, Masarat, is organizing this round of talks that would also include other factions and independents. The paper quoted Hani Masri, head of Masarat, as confirming this meeting and workshops aimed at finding ways to end the Palestinian division.
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