RAMALLAH, November 23, 2017 (WAFA) – Palestinian factions’ call at the end of two-day of closed-door talks in Cairo for holding elections by the end of 2018 dominated the front page headlines in Palestinian Arabic dailies on Thursday.
The dailies reported the factions unanimously agreed to hold presidential and legislative elections by the end of 2018.
Al-Quds added the factions also agreed that the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) is the sole representative of the Palestinian people.
It added the factions unanimously agreed to proceed with the implementation of the Cairo 2011 reconciliation agreement.
Member of Fatah Central Committee Azzam al-Ahmad was reported in al-Quds reiterating the Palestinian Authority’s (PA) efforts to ensure “one weapon” in the besieged Gaza Strip.
He was also reported in al-Quds and al-Ayyam stating that it was not proper to discuss the issue of security on media and announcing that Fatah and Hamas were set to meet during the first week of December in Cairo.
Moreover, senior Hamas official Khalil; al-Hayyeh was reported in al-Quds signaling Hamas’ support for President Mahmoud Abbas’ efforts to defend the Palestinian people and file lawsuits against Israel at the International Criminal Court (ICC).
Al-Quds and al-Ayyam added an Egyptian delegation was set to arrive to Gaza to follow-up on the implementation of the reconciliation agreement.
The spate of demolitions of Palestinian property by Israeli forces across the West Bank also dominated the front page headlines in the dailies.
They reported Israeli bulldozers demolished five residential structures, and an animal barn in the Hebron-district area of Masafer Yatta, East Jerusalem neighborhoods of Issawiya and Shufat and the northern Jordan Valley villages of al-Jiftlik and Furush Beit Dajan.
Al-Quds added Israel notified five Palestinian families in Salfit-district village of Deir Ballout about its intention to demolish their residential tents.
It also reported Israeli forces opened fire at Palestinians in Dheisheh refugee camp in Bethlehem and along the border with the northern Gaza Strip, injuring three Palestinians with live rounds.
Al-Quds published a report on the implications of the Palestinian Authority’s decision to freeze communications with Washington.
The US State Department was reported in al-Ayyam claiming the US wanted the PLO office in Washington, DC to remain open.
Citing Israeli media, al-Quds said Abbas turned down a US invitation to visit the White House.
Furthermore, al-Quds and al-Ayyam said US President Donald Trump’s son-in-law and senior advisor Jared Kushner is facing investigation for contacts with Israeli officials in an attempt to thwart a UN resolution condemning Israeli activities in the occupied Palestinian territories at the end of 2016.
Al-Quds published an article titled As the 50th anniversary for passing the UN Security Council Resolution 242, Israel, the occupying power, still considers itself above ]international[ law.
Al-Ayyam and al-Hayat al-Jadida said the presidential secretary-general, Tayyeb Abdul-Rahim, received a delegation from the Israeli rights group Rabbis for Peace in Ramallah.
King of Jordan Abdullah II was reported in al-Hayat al-Jadida stating Jordan opposes any attempts by Israel to seize Christian property in East Jerusalem.
Abdullah reportedly made these remarks during a meeting with a delegation of the World Council of Churches in Amman.
Highlighting a conference on prospective Arab, African and Chinese cooperation in Khartoum, al-Quds said the conference called on Beijing to pressure Israel to restitute Palestinians’ rights.
K.F./M.K.
