RAMALLAH, January 23, 2017 (WAFA) – Israeli plans to expand settlements in occupied East Jerusalem and plans by the new US administration to move its embassy to Jerusalem hit the front page headlines in the Palestinian dailies on Monday.
Al-Quds said Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has approved the construction of hundreds of new settlement units in East Jerusalem, giving the green light to annexation and settlement construction plans.
Al-Ayyam and al-Hayat al-Jadida said Israeli occupation authorities have approved the construction of 566 new units in East Jerusalem settlements. Al-Ayyam added Israeli authorities plan to construct 11,000 units in East Jerusalem.
Israel has reportedly approved the construction of 566 units in Ramat Shlomo settlement. It is also expected to approve the construction of 216 units in Ramot and 142 units in Pisgat Zeev, all settlements built on expropriated Palestinian land in occupied East Jerusalem. Israel is also reportedly expected to discuss the approval of 5,600 units in Gilo, Ramot and Givat Hamatos.
Highlighting official Palestinian reaction to these plans, al-Quds reported the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) and government stating the plans “cross the red lines” and urging the international community to take a decisive role to stop them.
Al-Hayat al-Jadida reported presidential spokesperson Nabil Abu Rudeineh as stating the decision is a “defiance of the Security Council” and urging the international community to take immediate action in accordance with resolution 2334.
The dailies also highlighted plans by the newly installed US President Donald Trump to relocate the US embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem.
Al-Quds reported the White House announcing that it started discussions on moving the embassy to Jerusalem, while al-Ayyam and al-Hayat al-Jadida reported the White House as stating it is still in “early stages” of talks to move the embassy.
President Mahmoud Abbas’ meeting with Jordan’s King Abdullah II to discuss potential steps should Trump carry out his plan to move the embassy to Jerusalem also hit the front page headlines in the dailies.
Al-Quds and al-Hayat al-Jadida reported Abbas and Abdullah agreed to take a set of measures should the embassy be relocated to Jerusalem, while al-Ayyam said they discussed the implications of this move.
Al-Quds and al-Ayyam said Trump invited Netanyahu to visit Washington in early February during a phone call.
Moreover, al-Quds said Israeli forces delivered demolition notices to Palestinian homes in the East Jerusalem neighborhood of Jabal al-Mukabber.
It added Israeli forces delivered stop-construction notices to a Palestinian home and a shack in the Qalqiliya district village of Azzun in the West Bank.
It said Palestinians in Israel organized a sit-in to protest a spate of home demolitions in Ramle. It added they plan to organize a rally in Jerusalem.
In addition, al-Ayyam reported a vote on a bill that seeks to annex the West Bank settlement of Maale Adumim was postponed.
K.F./M.K.
