RAMALLAH, Monday, April 01, 2019 (WAFA) – President Mahmoud Abbas’ remarks at the 30th Arab League summit in the Tunisian capital, Tunis, dominated the front page headlines in today’s issue of the three Palestinian Arabic dailies.
Abbas was reported in al-Ayyam and al-Hayat al-Jadida stressing: “We can no longer tolerate or cope with this situation” and “We will have to take decisive steps.”
On Jerusalem, Abbas was reported in al-Hayat al-Jadida reiterating: “Jerusalem is not for sale. Palestine will never make sense without having East Jerusalem and its holy sites as its capital.”
Abbas was also reported blaming the US administration for destroying the Arab Peace Initiative and warning Hamas against harassing the Palestinian masses demanding better living conditions in Gaza.
According to al-Quds, Arab leaders meeting in Tunis affirmed their rejection of the US decisions to recognize Israel’s sovereignty over Syria’s Golan Heights and to recognize Jerusalem as Israel’s capital.
Al-Ayyam and al-Hayat al-Jadida added that Arab leaders reiterated their rejection to any deal or initiative that does not comply with the international terms of reference of the Middle East peace process.
According to al-Quds, Hamas welcomes the thrust of the speech delivered by Abbas in front of the Arab leaders.
Additionally, al- Ayyam reported that Israeli occupation authorities are expected to approve the construction of 4,900 new settler units in the West Bank before the upcoming Israeli general elections, scheduled on April 9.
Commenting on Saturday’s million-person march held in commemoration of the first annual anniversary of the Great March of Return protests, al-Quds reported Hamas chief Ismail Haniyeh stating that Gaza masses have embodied the meanings of challenge and unity.
Al-Quds and al-Ayyam highlighted the Egyptian security delegation’s efforts aimed to defuse tensions in Gaza.
Al-Quds said that the Egyptian delegation left Gaza to receive timetables on the implementation of the Israeli facilities to the besieged coastal enclave in exchange for calm.
Al-Ayyam elaborated that Israeli facilities include easing restrictions on fishermen, increasing electricity supply and the number of entry permits granted to Gaza workers in addition to other facilities in the field of trade and employment.
According to al-Ayyam, Abbas held separate meetings with Russian envoy to the Middle East and Africa Mikhail Bogdanov in addition to Bahrain’s premier on the sidelines of the Arab summit in Tunis.
The dailies said Bilal Najjar and Tamer Abu al-Kheir, both 17, were laid to rest in Gaza. Both Najjar and Abu al-Kheir were killed by Israeli forces on Saturday during the protests.
Also regards Gaza, al-Ayyam said that Israeli artillery pounded several observation posts along Gaza’s eastern frontier in retaliation for a purported launching of rockets into southern Israel.
Al-Quds spotlighted Haaretz report Israeli Farmers are Working Palestinian Land alongside West Bank Separation Barrier.
It added that Israel has banned 20 Waqf-appointed guards and 170 other Palestinians entry into flashpoint Al-Aqsa Mosque compound on the backdrop of recent tensions over Bab al-Rahma prayer area.
Al-Quds and al-Ayyam said that Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro announced the inauguration of a business office in Jerusalem with diplomatic, while al-Ayyam added that the Palestinian Foreign Affairs Ministry condemned this move.
K.F./M.K.
