RAMALLAH, Monday, March 18, 2019 (WAFA) – The killing of an Israeli soldier and injuring two others in a stabbing and shooting attack outside the settlement of Ariel, north of Salfit city, dominated the front page headlines in Monday’s issue of the three Palestinian Arabic dailies.

The three dailies reported that an Israeli soldier was killed and two other Israelis were injured after a Palestinian allegedly carried out a stabbing and shooting attack near Salfit, with al-Quds noting that the two other Israelis were seriously injured.

The dailies added that Israeli forces are conducting a large-scale manhunt for the perpetrator.

Al-Ayyam and al-Hayat al-Jadida added in this regard that Israeli forces sealed and detained a number of Palestinians from several northern West Bank towns and villages, mainly Bruqin, Az-Zawiya and Kafr Ad-Dik.

The dailies reported that Israeli settlers stepped up their attacks against Palestinians to the south and west of Nablus, throwing rocks at Palestinian vehicles driving on roads near settlements in the area.

Israel’s Jerusalem Magistrate Court’s decision extending the closure of Bab al-Rahma prayer area inside Al-Aqsa Mosque compound also hit the front page headlines in the dailies.

Al-Quds reported the Council of Muslim Religious Endowments (Waqf) and Religious Affairs condemning the court’s decision and stressing that “Israeli courts have no jurisdiction over Al-Aqsa Mosque compound.”

Al-Hayat al-Jadida reported the Palestinian presidency slamming the Israeli court’s decision as “null and void”, and al-Ayyam reported it holding Israeli occupation authorities responsible for the ramifications.

Moreover, al-Quds said that Israeli forces detained a Palestinian girl purportedly for attempting to carry out a stabbing attack near the Ibrhimi Mosque in the southern West Bank district of Hebron.

The dailies spotlighted popular protests against the dire living conditions in the besieged Gaza Strip and Hamas’ police crackdown on the protests.

Al-Quds reported that Palestinians continued to hold popular protests demanding better living conditions and cancellation of taxes.

It also reported several political analysts describing the protests as a “national reaction to deadlock in people’s lives.”

Al-Ayyam said that Hamas continued to arrest activists of the “We Want to Live” group, which comprises university students and social media activists, as Hamas advocates moved to control protest sites.

Referring to Hamas-led security forces as “Hamas militia”, al-Hayat al-Jadida said that Hamas’ militia cracked down a women’s protest in Deir al-Balah and stormed Al-Azhar University campus.

Moreover, al-Quds published Israel human rights group B‘Tselem’s report B‘Tselem to UN Commission of Inquiry into 2018 Gaza protests: Israeli “investigations” a whitewashing mechanism to allow further killing.

According to al-Ayyam, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced the resumption of talks over the restoration of calm with Hamas through mediators.

It said that Israeli forces delivered demolition orders for seven Palestinian houses to the southeast of Bethlehem.

Al-Hayat al-Jadida reported Syria’s Grand Mufti Ahmad Baderddin Hassoun addressing Hamas: “If they have an iota of faith left, they should not repeat what they have done to Syria to Gaza.”

K.F.