RAMALLAH, January 26, 2018 (WAFA) – Palestinian officials’ responses rejecting US President Donald Trump’s threats to cut off all aid to Palestinians and statements that Jerusalem is off the negotiating table hit the front page headlines in Palestinian Arabic dailies on Friday.

Highlighting Trump’s statements on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum in Davos, al-Quds and al-Ayyam reported Trump stating that he had taken “Jerusalem off the table”.

He was also reported in al-Quds threatening to cut all US aid to the Palestinians “unless they sit down and negotiate peace” with Israel and announcing that he would move the US embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem as soon as next year.

Al-Quds and al-Ayyam spotlighted US ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley’s statements that President Mahmoud Abbas has “insulted” Trump and “declared the landmark Oslo Peace Accords dead”.

Highlighting Palestinian official responses, al-Ayyam reported Palestinian officials stating that they reject US dictates as well as political and financial blackmailing.

Presidential Spokesperson Nabil Abu Rudeineh was reported in al-Hayat al-Jadida stating: “If Jerusalem is off the table, then the US will be off the table as well.”

He was also reported stating that the US “policy of threats, starvation and capitulation will not work with the Palestinian people.”

Echoing Abu Rudeineh’s words, Secretary-General of the Palestine Liberation Organization’s (PLO) Executive Committee Saeb Erekat was reported in al-Hayat al-Jadida saying that the Palestinian people’s inherent rights and dignity were not subject to barter.

Member of the PLO Executive Committee Hanan Ashrawi was also reported in al-Hayat al-Jadida stating: “not meeting your oppressor is not a sign of disrespect; it is a sign of self-respect.”

Al-Ayyam reported Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process Nickolay Mladenov warning that funding to the UN agency responsible for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA) would further complicate the situation in the besieged Gaza Strip.

He was also reported in al-Hayat al-Jadida stating: “the two-state solution remains the only viable option for a just and sustainable end to the conflict.”

Moreover, al-Quds said that Israeli’s Council for Higher Education has backed the proposed application of Israeli law to colleges and universities in West Bank settlements.

According to al-Ayyam and al-Hayat al-Jadida, Abbas would deliver an important speech as the African Union’s summit in Addis Ababa.

Highlighting West Bank raids, al-Ayyam said Israeli occupation authorities sealed Kafr Ad-Dik village, west of Salfit.

Al-Ayyam and al-Hayat al-Jadida said Israeli forces stormed and sealed the Nablus-district archeological area of Sebastia.

They added Israeli forces delivered stop-construction orders for three Palestinian homes in al-Samou village, south of Hebron.

According to al-Ayyam, Israeli forces conducted multiple overnight raids across the West Bank, detaining 14 Palestinians.

According to al-Hayat al-Jadida, Israeli forces injured and detained a Palestinian teenager during clashes in Beit Einun village, northeast of Hebron.

Al-Hayat al-Jadida reported that China has called for increased funding for UNRWA and that Spanish Parliament was slated to discuss a motion on this issue.

Finally, the dailies reported that former mayor of Nablus city and senior PLO member Ghassan al-Shakaa has died at age 74.