RAMALLAH, August 27, 2018 (WAFA) – Senior Fatah official Azzam al-Ahmad’s remarks on intra-Palestinian reconciliation and ceasefire agreement with Israel dominated the front page headlines in Palestinian dailies on Monday.
Al-Ahmad, who serves as a member of the Palestine Liberation Organization’s (PLO) Executive Committee, was quoted in al-Quds and al-Hayat al-Jadida stating: “We will give an answer to Egypt’s new proposal over reconciliation within the coming 24 hours.”
He was also reported in al-Quds stating that leaders of Palestinian factions and political powers would not discuss the file of ceasefire or truce with Israel before they finalize the reconciliation file.
Al-Ayyam said in this regard that Fatah has underscored the importance of achieving intra-Palestinian reconciliation before discussing the file of truce with Israel.
Al-Ayyam and al-Hayat al-Jadida added in this regard that Cairo has affirmed its rejection of the construction of a seaport and airport outside the Gaza Strip as well as of any alternative to the legitimate Palestinian authority.
Member of Fatah Central Committee Muhammad Ishtayyeh was reported in al-Ayyam stating: “We seek to end the suffering of Gaza through concluding a comprehensive political agreement and achieving reconciliation.”
He was also reported in al-Hayat al-Jadida pledging that neither the US nor any other country would be able to abrogate the refugees issue and vowing that the Palestinian Authority would not yield to extortion.
Slamming US President Donald Trump’s plan to abrogate the right of Palestinian right of return Head of the PLO Department of Refugee Affairs Ahamd Abu Holi was reported in al-Hayat al-Jadida stating that none has the right to waive the right of Palestinian refugees to return.
Furthermore, al-Quds and al-Ayyam reported that Israel will reopen the Beit Hanoun crossing, also known as Erez, with the Gaza Strip on Monday.
Al-Quds reported Director of Al-Aqsa Mosque compound Sheikh Omar Kisswani stating: “The militarization of Al-Aqsa Mosque compound and its surrounding area is a prelude to change the status quo.”
Kisswani made his remarks in response to an Israeli plan to deploy more troops inside the holy site and in the surrounding area, deploy snipers at the walls of Jerusalem’s Old City and install more surveillance cameras.
Additionally, the dailies said that Israeli occupation authorities gave the Abu Hmeid family two days to leave their home in al-Amari refugee camp near Ramallah in preparation to demolish it.
Abu Hmeid’s son, Islam, was detained on June 6 and charged with dropping a rock on the head of a soldier during an Israeli military raid in the camp, killing him.
Al-Quds said that Israeli police raided the East Jerusalem neighborhood of Shufat and detained a number of Palestinians during a similar raid into al-Issawiya.
According to al-Hayat al-Jadida, Israeli police detained seven Palestinians, including a minor girl, from Jerusalem.
It added two more Palestinians were detained from the southern West Bank district of Hebron and two fishermen off the coast of the northern Gaza Strip.
Moreover, al-Ayyam highlighted an Israeli plan to commence the construction of hundreds of new settler units in the heart of East Jerusalem’s neighborhood of Beit Hanina early next month.
Yet, the dailies highlighted statements in response to US President Donald Trump’s plan to announce a change in policy regarding the UN agency responsible for Palestinian refugees, UNRWA.
The US administration is reportedly expected to announce that it will not accept UNRWA’s definition of a Palestinian refugee, which states that refugee status is passed from one generation to the next, and intends to freeze funding for the organization in the West Bank and ask Israel to consider ing its activities.
Al-Quds said that Jordan’s Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi is rallying support to convene a conference at the sideline of the upcoming UN General Assembly’s session to discuss means to support UNRWA.
It added that Jordan and Palestine warned against continued stalemate in the Mideast peace process.
It also reported that the UNRWA Staff Union has announced that employees would resume peaceful sit-ins in protest of the relief agency’s decision to terminate and downgrade the contracts of hundreds of employees in Gaza.
Al-Ayyam reported in this regard that the Israeli government has reiterated its demand to gradually dismantle the UNRWA through budget cuts.
It reported UK Minister for the Middle East Alistyair Burt condemning Israel’s approval of the construction of 2,100 settler units in the West Bank.
Besides to that, al-Hayat al-Jadida said that Fatah has slammed FIFA’s decision to ban the head of the Palestinian football association Jibril Rajoub from attending matches over alleged incitement as an “unjust and politicized decision.”
It reported Palestinian Education Ministry slamming the “politicization” and “exploitation” of Palestinian academic visits to the US.
The ministry made these statements in response to a reception that was held in honor of a group of Palestinian students at the White House to mark the start of their exchange program.
K.F.
