RAMALLAH, January 9, 2017 (WAFA) – The deadly attack when a Palestinian-driven truck rammed into Israeli pedestrians at a bus stop in the illegal Israeli settlement of East Talpiyyot in Jerusalem hit the front page headlines in Palestinian local dailies.

The dailies said a Palestinian-driven truck ploughed into a group of uniformed Israeli soldiers, killing four soldiers and injuring 15 others on a street at the Armon Hanatziv promenade overlooking Jerusalem’s Old City.

They added the Palestinian truck driver, identified as Fadi al-Qunbar, 28, from the Jerusalem neighborhood of Jabal al-Mukabbir, was shot dead by Israeli forces.

Highlighting Israeli reprisals, the dailies said Israeli cabinet decided to demolish the attacker’s family home and withhold his body.

Al-Hayat al-Jadida added the Israeli cabinet also decided to blockade the Jerusalem neighborhood of Jabal al-Mukabbir and detain (search out) any Palestinian who has expressed support or admiration of the attack.

Al-Ayyam and al-Hayat al-Jadida said Israeli officials assailed Palestinian Authority and held it responsible for the attack.

Furthermore, the dailies said Israeli settlers hurled stones at Palestinian vehicles traveling between Nablus and Qalqiliya in the northern West Bank, causing damages to the vehicles and wounds and bruises to passengers.  

The dailies said Israeli settlement group Elad took over a Palestinian home in the East Jerusalem neighborhood of Silwan. Al-Quds explained the home is located on al-Ein Street in Silwan.

The dailies said Israeli forces delivered stop-construction notices for 11 Palestinian homes to the east of Bethlehem.

Al-Quds added Israeli forces also delivered such notices to three Palestinian homes in the Salfit district village of Bruqin.

The dailies said Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, already under police investigation for suspected corruption, was caught on tape negotiating mutual benefits with Yedioth Ahronoth daily owner Moni Mozes.

Regarding plans to relocate Israeli settlers evacuated from Amona settlement outpost, al-Quds said there is a legal problem that prevents the relocation of Amona settlers to the nearby parcel of land, known as 38.

It is worth noting that Palestinians from the Ramallah area town of Silwad have filed an appeal, claiming ownership of the land allocated for the settlers.

Al-Quds and al-Ayyam said Israeli embassy official Shai Masot was filmed discussing how to “take down” UK Deputy Foreign Minister Sir Alan Duncan.

Al-Ayyam reported that Secretary-General of PLO Executive Committee Saeb Erkat would ask Russian Foreign Minister Sergy Lavrov to work with the Palestinians in order to implement UNSC resolution 2334 and convene the multilateral peace conference in Paris.

Reacting to the Jerusalem deadly attack, Erekat was reported in al-Hayat al-Jadida as stating draining the swamp of Israeli occupation is the key to regional stability and security.

K.F.