RAMALLAH, July 3, 2018 (WAFA) – The Israeli law that withholds tens of millions of dollars from the Palestinian Authority over welfare payments allocated to the families of prisoners and others killed by Israeli forces dominated the front page headlines in Palestinian local dailies on Monday.

The dailies reported that the Israeli parliament, the Knesset, has passed a law that deducts the payments from the tax revenues Israeli collects on behalf of the Palestinian Authority.

The killing of a Palestinian youth by Israeli forces in the besieged Gaza Strip also hit the front page headlines in the dailies.

They reported that Israeli forces killed a Palestinian youth and injured three others, east of Rafah city, in the southern besieged Gaza Strip.

According to al-Hayat al-Jadida, Israeli forces detained three Palestinians, east of Rafah.

The dailies also highlighted the spate of demolitions of Palestinian structures across the West Bank.

They said that Israeli occupation authorities demolished a car washing shop and razed and leveled a 300-square-meter barn in the East Jerusalem neighborhoods of Silwan and Umm Tuba.

Al-Quds and al-Ayyam added that Israeli occupation authorities removed a tent that Palestinians had set up to receive tourists in Battir, a Bethlehem-district village on UNESCO list.

Apart from that, al-Quds and al-Ayyam said that Israeli occupation authorities are making preparations to demolish the Palestinian Bedouin community of Khan al-Ahmar, east of Jerusalem.

Furthermore, the dailies highlighted President Mahmoud Abbas’ meeting with Qatari ambassador Mohammad al-Emadi in Ramallah.

Al-Quds said Abbas briefed al-Emadi on the latest political developments, while al-Hayat al-Jadida said that he emphasized that the Palestinian leadership would proceed with its efforts to achieve reconciliation.

Additionally, the dailies reported that hundreds of Palestinians rallied in the central West Bank city of Ramallah protesting the US plan, dubbed “deal of the century”, and in support of Abbas.

Deputy head of Fatah movement Mahmoud Aloul, who took part in the protest, was reported in al-Hayat al-Jadida stressing: “We will never concede Palestinian fundamentals” and that the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) is united in facing the deal.

Moreover, al-Quds and al-Ayyam spotlighted the European Union’s (EU) announcement that it would consult with the Palestinian Authority and Israel on its engagement in support of the two-state solution.

Al-Ayyam added that the EU stressing that “there is no intention to reduce the current level of EU funding or to review EU policies on the Middle East peace process.”

They added that Australia has announced that it will stop sending $7.5 million in direct funds to the Palestinian Authority.

Presidential advisor for international relations Nabil Shaath was reported in al-Ayyam slamming Australia’s announcement as a shameful, abhorrent position that demonstrates Australia’s subservience to the US.

Yet, Azzam al-Ahmad, senior Fatah leader and head of Fatah delegation to dialogue with Hamas, was reported in al-Quds reiterating that the US was not qualified to sponsor the peace process unless it reverses its decision on Jerusalem and Palestinian refugees.

He was also reported in al-Ayyam and al-Hayat al-Jadida stating: “There is no need for more debates and dialogues to achieve reconciliation. All what is needed is to implement what had been agreed upon in the past.”

Apart from that, al-Quds reported senior Hamas official Khalil al-Hayyeh underlining Hamas’ readiness to duly reach a prisoner swap deal with Israel.

 On the other hand, al-Quds spotlighted Human Rights Watch’s report Gaza killings, Unabated Settlement Activity Underscore Need for International Accountability, Action.

According to al-Ayyam, Israeli forces prevented Palestinian farmers in Jalud village, southeast of Nablus, from harvesting their wheat crop covering 250 dunums of land.

It added sewage water discharged from the Israeli settlement of Amichai drowned Palestinian farmlands in Turmus Ayya town, northwest of Ramallah.

K.F./M.K.