RAMALLAH, August 16, 2017 (WAFA) – The Israeli demolition of Palestinian homes in occupied East Jerusalem under the pretext of construction without permit was the highlight of two of the three Palestinian Arabic dailies published on Wednesday.

Al-Quds and al-Ayyam made this subject their main front page story while al-Hayat al-Jadida placed it on its front page but not as its main story. The paper opted to give remarks by President Mahmoud Abbas to members of his Fatah party whom he met at his headquarters in Ramallah prominence on its front page.

The paper highlighted statements from Abbas such as “Fatah is the owner of the national project and will remain as such until liberty and independence.”

The other two dailies also gave this subject front page coverage with al-Ayyam highlighting Abbas statements such as “our people are committed to peaceful popular resistance.”

Al Quds headline on this subject quoted Abbas saying: “If Hamas does not retreat, we will escalate our measures.”

The papers also reported on the cabinet meeting in which it criticized the Israeli decision to expand the authority of the so-called ‘civil administration” in the occupied Palestinian territories calling on Israel to dissolve it instead.

Al-Hayat al-Jadida said Qalqilia residents have protested UNRWA decision to shut down it local hospital.

The arrest of Raed Salah, head of the outlawed Islamic Movement in Israel, was highlighted on the front page of al-Quds and al-Ayyam, which also reported on statements by Hamas leader Khalil al-Hayyeh saying that Hamas was considering ideas by its military wing, al-Qassam Brigades, to create security and political void in the Gaza Strip.

They also reported on the threats by the Israel Electricity Company to the Palestinian-owned Jerusalem District Electricity Company to cut its power supply to it unless outstanding debt is paid.

Al-Ayyam said the daughter of the US ambassador to Israel, David Friedman, received Israeli citizenship upon arrival at Tel Aviv airport along with 200 other American Jews. Friedman is a known supporter and advocate of Israel’s settlement policy.

Al-Quds said the Shamasneh family in Sheikh Jarrah neighborhood of East Jerusalem won a court order postponing until Thursday its forced eviction from its home for the benefit of Jewish settlers.

It also said in another story that Israeli police raided homes of families of seven Palestinians accused of attacking Israelis and seized money and other belongings.

M.K.