RAMALLAH, September 15, 2017 (WAFA) – Russian and Egyptian renewed efforts to end the intra-Palestinian division and achieve national reconciliation was the chief focus of Palestinian Arabic dailies.

Quoting informed sources, al-Quds reported the Hamas movement has decided not to hold any meetings with sacked Fatah leader Muhammad Dahlan, but rather to maintain contact with his aides.

It added the Egyptian authorities agreed to allow Hamas to open a representative office in Cairo.

Al-Hayat al-Jadida reported Palestinian ambassador to Moscow Abdel Hafiz Nofal stating Russia was best placed to play an effective role in the Palestinian portfolio.

He was also reported that President Mahmoud Abbas was scheduled to meet Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov in New York on September 20.

Al-Quds and al-Ayyam highlighted media reports about a meeting between Abbas and his US counterpart Donald Trump on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGS) session in New York.

Al-Quds reported Palestinian ambassador to Cairo Jamal Shobaki stating in this regard Abbas and Trump would hold a “decisive” meeting soon.

He was also reported no amendments would be introduced to the Arab Peace Initiative and the Africa-Israel summit, which was slated to be hosted by Togo at the end of October, was successfully called off.

Al-Ayyam confirmed Abbas-Trump meeting, but added that there were no plans to hold a meeting between Abbas and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu or for a trilateral summit involving Abbas, Netanyahu and Trump.

Moreover, al-Hayat al-Jadida said Abbas expressed Palestinians’ readiness to offer help in the relief efforts for victims of Hurricane Irma that hit Cuba.

Al-Quds reported the Arab Follow-up Committee warning against the fraudulent sale of the Orthodox Church property to Israeli settlement groups.

It reported member of Palestine Liberation Organization’s (PLO) Executive Committee Hanan Ashrawi decrying Israel’s decision to bury four Palestinians who were recently killed by Israeli forces in the numbered cemeteries.

Following Israel’s decision to permanently close a building on Al-Aqsa Mosque compound near the Old City’s Golden Gate, al-Quds reported leading Islamic clerics affirming the gate was an integral part of Al-Aqsa Mosque compound and should not be closed.

Al-Quds and al-Ayyam said Israeli forces detained 13 Palestinians and seized cash during overnight raids across the West Bank. According to al-Hayat al-Jadida, detainees totaled 14.  

Al-Ayyam added a Palestinian young man was detained from East Jerusalem neighborhood of al-Issawiya purportedly for planning to attack Israelis.

Al-Quds said two Palestinians were killed in a Gaza tunnels collapse. According to al-Ayyam, only one Palestinian was killed.   

It added Amnesty International voiced concerns over Israeli threats to punish the human rights group over its campaign on Israeli settlements in the occupied Palestinian territories.  

Al-Quds and al-Ayyam said Israeli occupation authorities are prepared to forcefully relocate the Palestinian community of Khan al-Ahmar, east of Jerusalem, in order to expand the Israeli settlement of Maaleh Adumim.

Al-Ayyam said Israeli occupation authorities plan to exclude Palestinian detainees in Israeli prisons from benefiting from an Israeli court ruling that calls on Israeli Prison Service to improve detention conditions.

Al-Ayyam and al-Hayat al-Jadida printed a photo for a demonstration against Netanyahu’s visit to the Colombian capital of Bogota.

Al-Hayat al-Jadida said the health situation of Haitham Jaradat, an injured Palestinian in Israeli imprisonment, was serious.  

Jaradat, 15, was detained after being shot with live ammunition by Israeli forces while allegedly committing a stabbing attack. He is currently held in Israel’s Shaare Zedek Medical Center.

Finally, al-Hayat al-Jadida said the United Nations World Tourism Organization postponed a vote on Palestine’s membership in the international organization.

K.F.