RAMALLAH, June 23, 2017 (WAFA) – The Israeli government’s plan to construct 300 new settler units near Ramallah and tighten restrictions on Palestinian movement into and out of East Jerusalem’s Old City via Damascus Gate hit the front page headlines in Palestinian dailies.
The dailies reported Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu pledged to construct 300 new settler units in Beit El settlement near the central West Bank city of Ramallah.
Al-Ayyam and al-Hayat al-Jadida also reported Israeli occupation authorities developed a plan to “alter the character” of Damascus Gate, which serves as the entrance to the Muslim quarter of Jerusalem’s Old City.
The authorities reportedly suggested a new “surveillance and armed security strategy” which involves building high, aboveground “surveillance points” in areas where Israeli forces will be stationed.
The “strategy” also involves allowing Palestinians to enter the old city through Damascus Gate via specific routes, where Palestinians will undergo “thorough searches” and installing more technological devices at the area to maintain Israeli police’s control.
The dailies said President Mahmoud Abbas met the UN Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process Nickolay Mladenov in Ramallah.
Al-Hayat al-Jadida added Abbas underscored the importance that Hamas disband the administrative committee running the besieged Gaza Strip.
al-Ayyam said Abbas briefed US President Donald Trump’s son-in-law and senior advisor Jared Kushner in detail on the Palestinian position on final status issues during their meeting in Ramallah.
Al-Quds added the White House has recognized the difficulty of resuming Palestinian-Israeli peace talks now.
It added Israeli generals have warned against the suspension of US funding to the Palestinian Authority (PA).
Al-Quds and al-Hayat al-Jadida also reported Israeli occupation authorities opened all entrances to Deir Abu Mashaal village, northwest of Ramallah, the hometown of three Palestinians who shot dead an Israeli policewoman near Damascus Gate a week ago.
Al-Hayat al-Jadida added Israeli forces continued to detain Zeinab, the mother of Adel Ankoush, 18, one of the three Palestinians who carried out the deadly attack.
Al-Ayyam said Israeli occupation authorities would continue to restrict Palestinian worshippers’ access to Al-Aqsa Mosque compound on the last Friday of the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan.
It added the village council of Jalud and Israeli human rights group Yesh Din petitioned the Israeli High Court in protest of the construction of the new settlement of Amichai on Palestinian-owned lands.
Al-Hayat al-Jadida said German Foreign Ministry refused to back down on criticism of Israeli government’s policy of ongoing settlement construction in the West Bank.
It also reported director of the Arab Studies Society’s Mapping Department Khalil Tafakji warning Israel has already achieved what it was planning for 2020 in East Jerusalem.
It also reported president advisor Nabil Shaath defending payments to families of Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails during his speech in the 2017 Herzliya Conference.
It quoted him stating: “Salaries paid to prisoners’ families is a social responsibility intended to look after innocent people affected by the imprisonment or killing of their loved ones as a result of the ]Israeli[ occupation.”
K.F.
