RAMALLAH, July 19, 2017 (WAFA) – High tensions in East Jerusalem following Israeli measures at Al-Aqsa Mosque compound and President Mahmoud Abbas’ visit to China hit the front page headlines in Palestinian dailies on Wednesday.
Al-Quds reported Israeli police assaulted Palestinian worshippers who performed prayers outside Lions’ Gate leading to the mosque compound, injuring dozens, including head of the Higher Islamic Committee Sheikh Ikrima Sabri.
Al-Ayyam and al-Hayat al-Jadida said Palestinian Muslim worshippers continued to perform prayers in the streets outside the mosque compound to express their rejection of the installation of metal detectors and the entrances of Al-Aqsa.
Highlighting international reactions to the Israeli measures, al-Quds reported Jordan and Russia called for the restoration of calm in East Jerusalem.
It added the United Nations Security Council was scheduled to convene to discuss the situation in the mosque compound during the upcoming week.
Al-Ayyam also reported the United Nations called for maintaining the status quo in East Jerusalem.
Covering Palestinian official reactions, al-Hayat al-Jadida said Prime Minister Rami Hamdallah urged the Organization of Islamic Cooperation to hold an emergency session to discuss the situation in the mosque compound.
It reported the cabinet slamming all previous and future Israeli measures in East Jerusalem as null and void.
Furthermore, President Mahmoud Abbas’ official visit to Beijing hit the front pages headlines in the dailies.
According to al-Quds and al-Hayat al-Jadida, Abbas warned against turning the Palestinian-Israeli political conflict into a religious conflict.
Al-Hayat al-Jadida added Abbas expressed his gratitude for Beijing for its support of the Palestinian people’s aspirations to freedom and independence and called Beijing to support the establishment of an industrial zone in Tarqumia.
According to al-Quds and al-Ayyam, Chinese President Xi Jinping reiterated his country’s support for the two-state solution and the just Palestinian cause and urged Israel to halt settlement construction.
Al-Hayat al-Jadida added Xi also affirmed his country’s support for the implementation of the UN Security Council resolution 2334.
Moreover, al-Quds and al-Ayyam said Israel has approved a plan to build 900 new settler units in Gilo and Pisgat Zeev settlements in occupied East Jerusalem.
The dailies reported Israeli forces killed a Palestinian man after he allegedly carried out a car-ramming attack at the entrance of Beit Einun, north of Hebron.
Al-Quds and al-Ayyam reported the administration of Makased Hospital in East Jerusalem called on international organizations to intervene to protect the hospital from Israeli raids.
The hospital’s administration made this appeal after Israeli forces raided the hospital seeking to detain a Palestinian who was receiving treatment after being shot and seriously injured by police Monday night in Silwan neighborhood.
Al-Quds reported the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Jerusalem sold land near the famous clock tower in Jaffa besides 700 dunums of land in the coastal city of Caesarea to private investors.
Al-Ayyam said Israeli premier, Benjamin Netanyahu, expressed doubts during talks with French President Emmanuel Macron about US President Donald Trump’s peacemaking efforts and affirmed Israel would not evacuate any West Bank settlement.
K.F./M.K.
