RAMALLAH, July 28, 2017 (WAFA) – Scenes of short-lived jubilation as Palestinians gathered at Al-Aqsa Mosque compound for the first time since the Israeli measures imposed at the site were lifted dominated the front page headlines in Friday’s Palestinian Arabic dailies.

Al-Quds and al-Ayyam reported Jerusalemite Palestinians celebrated their victory in the battle over Al-Aqsa.

The dailies published photos for tens of thousands of Palestinians entering the mosque compound for afternoon prayer and waving the flag of Palestine at the entrance of the mosque.

Affirming that these celebrations were short-lived, the dailies reported Israeli troops stormed the mosque compound to remove worshippers who barricaded themselves inside.

Al-Quds and al-Hayat al-Jadida added Israeli troops attacked Palestinian worshippers inside the mosque compound, injuring over 100 and detaining many others.

They added members of Islamic Waqf (Endowment) in charge of running the mosque compound called on Palestinians in East Jerusalem to close all mosques and head towards Al-Aqsa Mosque for Friday prayers.

Al-Quds and al-Ayyam said President Mahmoud Abbas rejected US pressures on the mosque compound.

Abbas was also reported in al-Ayyam and al-Hayat al-Jadida praising the steadfastness of Palestinian Muslims and Christians during the mosque crisis in East Jerusalem.

He was also reported in al-Hayat al-Jadida affirming a cabinet’s recent decision to provide immediate support to East Jerusalem would be implemented.

It is worth noting the Palestinian Authority (PA) has allocated $25 million to support Palestinians in East Jerusalem.

Moreover, al-Quds said Israeli members of Knesset introduced a bill that would allow Jerusalem-district Palestinians towns to be “transferred” to the Palestinian Authority.

Following the takeover of a Palestinian home near the Ibrahimi Mosque in Hebron by Israeli Jewish settlers, al-Quds published a feature story titled Hebron’s old homes resist Israeli occupation and settlers.

The dailies reported 25-year-old Muhammad Kanaan succumbed to his wounds days after he was shot in the head by Israeli forces during clashes in the Jerusalem-district town of Hizma.

It is worth noting Kanaan was the fifth Palestinian to be killed by Israelis in the past two weeks as Israeli forces cracked down on two-week Palestinian rallies protesting Israeli measures in Jerusalem’s flashpoint Al-Aqsa Mosque compound.

Al-Quds and al-Ayyam said Arab foreign ministers expressed their solidarity with the Palestinian people and urged the UN Security Council to assume its responsibilities in terms of maintaining peace and security in Jerusalem.

Al-Ayyam said Jordan’s monarch Abdullah II criticized Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s behavior towards the security guard who killed two Jordanians and called on Israel to try the guard.

Al-Quds and al-Ayyam said Netanyahu reportedly proposed a “land swap” that would see some Israeli settlements in the West Bank “annexed” to Israel in exchange for Wadi Ara region “annexed” to the Palestinian Authority.

Finally, Chinese ambassador to Palestine Ching Chung was reported reiterating the Palestinian question was fundamental and could not be marginalized.

K.F.