RAMALLAH, June 8, 2018 (WAFA) – The anticipated large turnout of Palestinians in Friday’s protests, dubbed the “March of a Million to Jerusalem” and rising tensions at Al-Aqsa Mosque compound hit the front page headlines in Palestinian Arabic dailies on Friday.
Al-Quds reported that the Higher National Commission for the Great March of Return called on Palestinians to partake in the March of a Million to Jerusalem protests along Gaza’s eastern border.
Al-Ayyam added that the Higher National Commission for the Great March of Return completed preparations for today’s protests, dubbed the “March of a Million to Jerusalem”, amidst calls for ensuring protection for protestors and reducing losses among them.
Al-Quds and al-Hayat al-Jadida said in this regard that Israeli forces were “placed at a heightened alert” along Gaza’s border.
The UN envoy for the Middle East Nickolay Mladenov was reported in al-Quds stating that the recent killing and injuring of hundreds of Palestinians in the Gaza Strip by Israeli gunfire “have created an inappropriate climate for reviving a political settlement between Palestinians and Israelis.”
Highlighting rising tensions at East Jerusalem’s flashpoint Al-Aqsa Mosque compound, al-Quds reported that Israeli police announced that the holy site would be closed to Israeli settlers starting from today following recent outbreak of tensions.
According to al-Ayyam, Israeli police physically assaulted Muslim worshippers and obstructed the access of others wishing to spend the last ten days of the fasting month in steadfast worship at the flashpoint site as Israeli settlers continued to force their way into the site.
The dailies added that a total of 100,000 Muslim worshippers performed the Evening and Taraweeh prayers at the holy site.
Moreover, the dailies said that Israeli forces shot and injured eight Palestinians, including a serious injury, during an overnight raid that triggered confrontations into Nablus.
Al-Quds said that Israeli forces also conducted multiple raids into Duheisha refugee camp, south of Bethlehem, and several towns in Hebron district, while al-Ayyam said that they detained 11 Palestinians in West Bank raids.
Al-Quds and al-Hayat al-Jadida reported that Israeli troops stormed the Palestinian At-Tahaddi (Defiance) School 9, southwest of Jenin, and took photos for its facilities just few hours after it was inaugurated.
According to al-Quds, the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) slammed the recently-introduced Anti-Semitism Awareness Act as an attack against freedom of speech.
It published a new analysis titled Neither does France plan to launch a peace initiative nor it plans to unilaterally recognize the State of Palestine.
Additionally, al-Ayyam and al-Hayat al-Jadida said that President Mahmoud Abbas commended the Palestine Football Association for its efforts conducive to Argentina’s decision to cancel their warm-up match against Israel.
He was also reported expressing his gratitude for the Argentine Football Association for championing international law.
Deputy Chairman of Fatah Mahmoud al-‘Aloul was reported in al-Ayyam announcing that members of Fatah Central Committee would meet the government soon to discuss the issue of paying the salaries of Gaza civil servants.
Yet, al-Hayat al-Jadida reported the Independent Commission for Human Rights welcomed Palestine’s decision to accede to the special protocols for the abolition of the death penalty.
Regionally, the dailies reported that the newly-appointed Jordanian Prime Minister Omar Razzaz announced that the IMF-backed controversial income tax bill would be withdrawn.
K.F.
