RAMALLAH, May 30, 2017 (WAFA) – The US special envoy Jason Greenblatt’s statements on advancing the Israeli-Palestinian political process dominated the front page headlines in Palestinian dailies.
Al-Quds and al-Hayat al-Jadida reported Greenblatt stating US President Donald Trump is eager to begin Israeli-Palestinian negotiations on the core issues of a permanent solution, such as borders and refugees. Al-Quds reported him saying Trump is serious about the peace process.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was reported in al-Quds and al-Ayyam stating Trump has not issued a “blank check” to Israel.
He was also reported in al-Ayyam stating Israel would maintain “security control” over the West Bank.
On the other hand, al-Hayat al-Jadida opted to highlight Palestinian official statements slamming Israeli measures in Jerusalem a day after Israeli cabinet convened in tunnels located underneath the Old City of East Jerusalem.
Al-Hayat al-Jadida and al-Ayyam reported president’s spokesman, Nabil Abu Rudeineh, slamming Israeli commemoration of the so-called “the annexation of Jerusalem,” which he said constitutes a serious violation to UN Security Council Resolution 2334 and harms the foundations of the peace process.
Furthermore, al-Quds published details of an Israeli cabinet’s plan to offer financial incentives to Palestinian schools in East Jerusalem that are ready to switch to teaching the Israeli curriculum to their students replacing the Palestinian curriculum.
It added Israeli forces sealed entrances of several West Bank towns and villages and raided a number of West Bank districts.
It added Israeli naval boats opened fire at Palestinian fishing boats sailing off the coast of the northwestern besieged Gaza Strip, injuring a fisherman.
Al-Quds and al-Ayyam reported head of the Committee of Prisoners’ Affairs Issa Qaraqe announcing the formation of a committee to be in charge of negotiating with the Israel Prisons Service over the remaining prisoners’ outstanding demands.
Al-Ayyam and al-Hayat al-Jadida said Palestinians widely condemned Hamas’ decision to use the land used as helipad for the late Yasser Arafat’s helicopter in Gaza for the construction of a Qatari embassy and ambassador’s residence.
They reported Human Rights Watch stating a total of 90,000 Palestinians in occupied East Jerusalem live in homes that are threatened with demolition.
Al-Ayyam said Israeli forces demolished the solidarity tents set up by international activists in the Sumud Freedom Camp in Sarura village in the southern West Bank district of Hebron.
K.F./M.K.
