RAMALLAH, November 22, 2017 (WAFA) – The first round of inter-Palestinian dialogue on reconciliation launched in Cairo dominated the front page headlines in Palestinian Arabic dailies on Wednesday.

Covering this theme in its main news item, al-Ayyam reported that on the first day of the three-day national dialogue, Palestinian factions focused on the issue of enabling the national consensus government to be fully in charge of the Gaza Strip.

Al-Quds reported in this regard Palestinian factions discussed all issues in accordance with the Cairo 2011 reconciliation agreement.

Senior Hamas official Khalil al-Hayya was reported in al-Quds stating the factions have agreed on the development of mechanisms of actions and practical timetables for all issues under discussion.

The national consensus government was reported in al-Ayyam stating that it would serve as an “executive arm” for the implementation of all the items agreed on by the factions.

Moreover, President Mahmoud Abbas’ speech before the Spanish parliament also hit the front page headlines in the dailies.

Al-Quds reported that Abbas has expressed his appreciation of Spain’s role in supporting the Palestinian question.

He was also reported in al-Ayyam calling on Spain to play a role in finding a just solution to the Palestinian question and bring the Israeli occupation of the West Bank and the Gaza Strip to an end.

He was also reported in al-Hayat al-Jadida expressing his determination to proceed with achieving national reconciliation to unite the Palestinian people and territories.

On the other hand, al-Quds opted to spotlight Abbas’ decision to freeze communications with the United States in response to the US State Department’s decision not to renew the operating license for the Palestine Liberation Organization’s (PLO) office in Washington, DC.

It said the Palestinian Authority (PA) has frozen communications with Washington, while the US State Department stressed communications were still ongoing.

Presidential spokesman Nabil Abu Rudeineh was reported in al-Ayyam and al-Hayat al-Jadida stating: “The coming period will be decisive ]in Palestinian-US relations[,” noting that “it would provide an opportunity to correct the Palestinian-US relations.”

Moreover, al-Quds reported Israeli police detained 18 Palestinians from East Jerusalem, accusing them of carrying out activities for the benefit of the Palestinian Authority.

According to al-Hayat al-Jadida, a total of 19 Palestinians, including several Fatah officials, were rounded up from the West Bank.

They added Israeli Jewish settlers stormed the archeological site of Joseph’s Tomb in Nablus during an overnight raid that triggered clashes.

The Palestinian cabinet was reported in al-Quds and al-Hayat al-Jadida stating: “The challenges confronting us require that we accelerate steps to achieve reconciliation.”

Secretary-General of the PLO Executive Committee Saeb Erekat was reported in al-Quds and al-Ayyam stating that the Palestinian leadership did not have any details about the content of the US Administration’s plan for Middle East peace.

Moreover, al-Quds and al-Hayat al-Jadida reported the Palestinian Prisoners Affairs’ Commission and Finance Ministry have agreed to continue to disburse monthly payments to former prisoners.

Al-Ayyam said the Israeli Supreme Court has allowed a Jewish settler organization to run Palestinian lands that were seized and designated as “biblical parks” adjacent to East Jerusalem’s flashpoint Al-Aqsa Mosque compound.

It added torrential rains flooded streets and homes and a student was seriously injured as a result of strong wind in the besieged Gaza Strip.

K.F./M.K.