RAMALLAH, March 22, 2018 (WAFA) – The military court’s ruling against Ahed Tamimi, the 17-year-old girl who stood up to Israeli soldiers, to eight months in prison and a similar sentence against her mother, Nariman, as well as reports from Gaza regarding the attempt at the life of Prime Minister Rami Hamdallah were highlighted on the front page of the three Arabic dailies on Thursday.
Al-Quds and al-Ayyam said the Israeli military court reached a deal with the Tamimis’ lawyer in which most of the charges against Ahed Tamimi and her mother would be dropped and that the two Tamimis would spend eight months in prison and pay a fine. Since they were arrested in December, the two are expected to be released in May.
Regarding the attempt to assassinate Hamdallah, al-Quds and al-Ayyam said that Hamas has published photos of the alleged bomber and identified him as Anas Abu Khousa. It said Hamas offered $5000 for any information about Abu Khousa, who remains at large. Al-Quds, which made this story its main front page item, said Hamas forces set up checkpoints in an effort to apprehend the alleged culprit and warned people against helping him. It said Abu Khousa bought the explosive from extremist fundamentalists.
Al-Hayat al-Jadida said in its main front page story on the assassination attempt that the crime scene refutes Hamas claims about how the attempt was prepared. It said Hamas military wing, al-Qassam Brigades, have that area declared as a closed military zone, which means no one can enter it, and that since a senior Hamas official lives there, it has many cameras installed in the area.
Al-Hayat al-Jadida said in another report that President Mahmoud Abbas is going to receive today in Ramallah his Bulgarian counterpart.
Al-Ayyam quoted Abbas’ advisor Nabil Shaath saying the Palestinians are not expecting anything from the American so-called deal of the century.
It also quoted Jerusalem minister in the Palestinian Authority, Adnan Husseini, saying that Israel is escalating punitive measures against Palestinians in occupied East Jerusalem following the US recognition of Jerusalem as capital of Israel.
The Israeli army crackdown on protests in the West Bank and arrest campaign were also highlighted on the front page of the dailies.
They said Israeli forces raided Makassed hospital in East Jerusalem and arrested a wounded Palestinian who was getting treatment there from an apparent fire bomb.
Al-Quds said Israel is building a barbed fence at the Gaza border in anticipation of the Great March planned to start on March 30, Land Day, and would last until Nakba Day on May 15.
The dailies also highlighted Arab, Israeli and international news such as Israel’s declaration for the first time that it has bombed an alleged nuclear reactor in Syria in 2007, the visit of the Saudi Crown prince to Washington and his meeting with the US Mideast peace team.
Al-Quds said Israel was worried about the close ties between the Arab Gulf countries and the US, which may come at the expense of its ties to the US.
The papers also said Air India starts today first flight from New Delhi to Tel Aviv flying over Saudi airspace.
M.K.
