RAMALLAH, February 7, 2017 (WAFA) – The Israeli Knesset’s approval of a bill that would retroactively legalize the expropriation by settlers of private Palestinian land across the West Bank hit the front page headlines in three Palestinian Arabic dailies.

Al-Quds and al-Ayyam said the Knesset passed the so-called “Legalization bill” that would legalize the expropriation of more private Palestinian land for settlement construction. The bill was passed with 60 in favor 52 against.  

Al-Quds added Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu briefed the US and UK about the vote. 

Highlighting official Palestinian reactions, al-Quds and al-Hayat al-Jadida reported presidential spokesman Nabil Abu Rudeineh as urging the international community to assume its responsibilities before “matters reach an uncontrollable phase.”

Abu Rudeineh was reported in al-Ayyam slamming the law as an “escalation” and “legalization of land grab” in al-Ayyam, and in al-Hayat al-Jadida slamming it as illegal and in violation of UN Security Council’s resolution 2334.

Al-Ayyam also reported the Joint Arab List decrying the law as an “assassination of the peaceful solution.”

The bill, also known as the regularization or formalization bill, would retroactively legalize under Israeli law dozens of so-called settlement outposts built on privately-owned Palestinian land in the occupied West Bank.

These outposts were built without official approval from Israeli authorities, but tacitly supported by successive Israeli governments, part of an effort to colonize as much Palestinian land in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, as possible. Under international law, all Israeli settlements, including outposts, are illegal.

Highlighting the spate of airstrikes on the besieged Gaza Strip, the dailies said Israeli military launched a series of airstrikes on the Gaza Strip, injuring three Palestinians.

Al-Ayyam explained Israeli warplanes and artillery pounded several locations across the besieged Gaza enclave in response to a rocket that allegedly landed in Askalan region of southern Israel.

The dailies said Israeli occupation forces and settlers stepped up their assaults against Palestinians and their properties across the West Bank.

They explained Israeli forces detained 14 Palestinians and seized cash and property during large-scale overnight raids across East Jerusalem which targeted families of Palestinians slain or imprisoned after carrying out real or alleged attacks.

Al-Ayyam and al-Hayat al-Jadida said settlers chopped down 700 olive and almond trees in farmlands belonging to Palestinians in the Nablus-district village of Burqa.

Al-Quds said Portuguese government expressed concern over Israeli settlement expansion across the West Bank.

Highlighting Netanyahu’s meeting with his British counterpart Theresa May in London, al-Quds said May informed Netanyahu her country is committed to the two-state solution.

Al-Hayat al-Jadida reported Palestinian president’s office condemned British government’s invitation to Netanyahu to celebrate the centennial anniversary of the Balfour Declaration.

Al-Quds reported Jordanian King Abdullah II as stating his meetings with US officials in Washington, DC focused on the Palestinian cause.

The dailies said President Mahmoud Abbas is scheduled to Tuesday meet his French counterpart François Hollande in Paris.

Al-Hayat al-Jadida explained Abbas would discuss the outcomes of the international peace conference with Hollande.

Finally, al-Ayyam and al-Hayat al-Jadida said the Central Elections Commission announced a timeline for local municipal elections in 2017 across the West Bank and besieged Gaza Strip.

K.F.