RAMALLAH, February 26, 2018 (WAFA) – News about the decision of Christian church leaders to indefinitely close the Church of the Holy Sepulcher in Jerusalem as well as the fatal shooting of a Palestinian fisherman by the Israeli navy hit the front page of the three Palestinian Arabic dailies on Monday.
The papers reported that Jerusalem’s Christian leaders decided on Sunday to close the Church of the Holy Sepulcher in the old city of Jerusalem, the site of Christ crucifixion and the most important church in the world, in protest against an Israeli policy to tax church property and a proposed land appropriation law.
The church leaders and patriarchs announced that the church is going to be closed until further notice, saying the closure came in protest against Israel’s policies against the churches, according to the dailies.
Al-Ayyam said Jordan Sunday condemned Israel’s decisions against Jerusalem churches and properties in violation of international law, demanding Israel to immediately reverse its decisions.
Al-Hayat al-Jadida, al-Ayyam and al-Quds said that a Palestinian fisherman was fatally shot after Israeli naval forces opened fire at a fishing boat despite sailing within the allowed fishing zone off al-Sudaniya shore, northwest of Gaza city.
They said the Israeli navy opened fire at a Palestinian fishing boat carrying three fishermen, shooting and critically injuring one of them before he succumbed to his wounds shortly after.
Al-Quds said that the Israeli government has approved the construction of 350 housing units in the neighborhood of Netiv Ha‘avot in the Gush Etzion settlement bloc.
Al-Ayyam said a new illegal settlement outpost is set to be built near the Jordan Valley.
Israeli authorities Sunday declared closure of the West Bank and Gaza for a period of four days for the Jewish holiday of Purim, said al-Ayyam.
Al-Hayat al-Jadida said President Mahmoud Abbas arrived in Amman coming from the US, where he addressed the UN Security Council on Tuesday. He will then return to Ramallah.
It quoted chief negotiator Saeb Erekat saying the US, with its policies on Jerusalem, has become a threat to the region’s stability.
It also said an Egyptian security delegation arrived in Gaza on Sunday to work on implementing the reconciliation agreement between Fatah and Hamas.
K.T./M.K.
