RAMALLAH, June 6, 2017 (WAFA) – The diplomatic crisis hitting the Gulf countries hit the front page headlines in local Palestinian dailies on Tuesday
Al-Quds and al-Hayat al-Jadida said a number of countries, particularly Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Egypt severed diplomatic ties with Qatar.
Al-Quds added Yemen, Libya and the Maldives joined later in a coordinated move that involved denying Qatar access to their border crossings, seaports and airports.
Al-Ayyam described the move as a “political and diplomatic earthquake that has engulfed Qatar.”
Al-Quds also published a position report issued by the Arab Center for Research and Policy Studies detailing the reasons and motives of this crisis.
Al-Ayyam and al-Hayat al-Jadida said the crisis has triggered panic buying for food in supermarkets across Qatar.
Al-Quds and al-Hayat al-Jadida said a number of Palestinian were shot and injured during clashes with Israeli forces to the east of the besieged Gaza Strip.
Al-Quds added a number of Palestinians suffered from suffocation as Israeli forces showered them with tear gas canisters during an early morning raid into Jalazoun refugee camp, north of Ramallah.
It said suspected Israeli settlers vandalized a number of Palestinian-owned vehicles in East Jerusalem, slashing their tires and spray-painting anti-Palestinian slogans.
It also reported the Israeli municipality of West Jerusalem plans to seize 52 dunums of Palestinian land from the Sheikh Saed locality in the East Jerusalem neighborhood of Jabal al-Mukabbir.
It reported the Higher Islamic Commission stating the Western Wall is an integral part of Al-Aqsa Mosque compound and solely belongs to Muslims.
The dailies spotlighted presidential spokesperson Nabil Abu Rudeineh’s remarks on the 50th anniversary of the Israeli occupation of the Palestinian territories, also known as the Naksa or setback.
They reported him stating the Palestinian people would continue their struggle for freedom and independence and that the Palestinian identity has top priority.
Al-Hayat al-Jadida said Saudi Arabia decided to continue to exempt Palestinian products from customs.
It also reported Palestinian government spokesperson Yousef al-Mahmoud affirming Prime Minister Rami Hamdallah’s meeting with Israeli Finance Minister Moshe Kahlon focused on Palestinian national interest.
It also reported Palestinian Finance Ministry denying media reports that it has cut off salaries for Hamas-affiliated lawmakers.
It said Israeli occupation authorities resentenced a Palestinian to life in prison more than 30 years after he was released in a prisoner swap deal.
The detainee was identified as Yousif Abu al-Kheir, 74, from the coastal city of Akka in Israel.
K.F./M.K.
