RAMALLAH, July 7, 2017 (WAFA) – President Mahmoud Abbas’ visit to Tunis and new settlement construction plans dominated the front page headlines in local Palestinian dailies.

The dailies reported Abbas reiterating he was serious about making a historic peace deal with Israel on the basis of the two state-solution along 1967 borders.

Al-Hayat al-Jadida added Abbas and his Tunisian counterpart Beji Caid Essebsi affirmed their rejection of unilateral solutions and other solutions calling for the recognition of Israel as a Jewish state.

On the other hand, al-Ayyam opted reported in its main front page item that Israel has advanced three new settlement construction plans in East Jerusalem.

It explained Israel has pushed forward plans to construct 500 new settler units in Ramat Shlomo settlement, 152 others in Ramot settlement and expand the Israeli bypass road west of Beit Jala, known as the tunnel road.

Al-Quds said in this regard the Israeli Municipality of West Jerusalem has advanced plans to construct 800 new settler units in settlements across East Jerusalem.

Al-Quds and al-Ayyam also reported Israeli forces conducted multiple raids across Bethlehem district, shooting and injuring several Palestinians with rubber-coated steel bullets and causing others to suffocate from tear gas inhalation.

Al-Quds added Israeli forces detained 14 Palestinians and sealed two lathing workshops during multiple predawn raids across the West Bank.

It added forces stormed the family home of Adel Ankoush in Deir Abu Mashaal village, northwest of Ramallah, in preparation for punitive demolition.

Ankoush, 18, was one of three Palestinians who were shot dead by Israeli police after they carried out a deadly attack that claimed the life of an Israeli policewoman near East Jerusalem’s Damascus Gate in January.

It also reported Palestinians in Jerusalem called for rapid solutions to their suffering as a result of having to wait in queues in long hours at the East Jerusalem-based office of the Israeli Interior Ministry.

It added Israeli occupation authorities delivered six military orders to stop construction of Palestinian homes in Qalqiliya district in the northern West Bank.

It also reported a total of 14 Palestinian refugees were killed in Syria during June 2017.

Al-Ayyam reported Israel has adopted new measures to ban the entry of foreign supporters of Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) Movement into Israel.

Al-Ayyam and al-Hayat al-Jadida said the United Nations cultural agency (UNESCO) is expected to vote on Friday on a resolution declaring Hebron’s Old City an area of outstanding universal value.

Al-Quds and al-Ayyam said a Hamas delegation, including the Gaza administrative committee and head of Hamas movement Yahya Sinwar, toured the southern border between the besieged enclave and Egypt.

Al-Quds reported Hamas officials that they have asked Egypt to supervise the implementation of the Cairo reconciliation deal with Fatah.

It added the government has called on Hamas to respond to Abbas’ initiative to achieve national reconciliation.

Referring to a report issued by the Gaza Chamber of Trade & Commerce, al-Hayat al-Jadida said the besieged Gaza Strip is on the brink of economic collapse.