RAMALLAH, Saturday, June 01, 2019 (WAFA) – Israeli forces killing two young Palestinians – one in Jerusalem and the second in Bethlehem - was highlighted on the front page of the three Palestinian Arabic dailies today.
An Israeli sniper shot and killed Abdullah Ghaith, 16, from Hebron as he tried to cross the Israeli barrier separating Jerusalem from Bethlehem in an attempt to reach Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem to attend the last Friday of Ramadan prayer.
In Jerusalem, forces shot and killed Yousef Wajih, 18, from the Ramallah area village of Ubwin after he allegedly stabbed and wounded two Israeli settlers in Jerusalem’s Old City.
The three papers said more than a quarter of a million people attended the last Friday of Ramadan prayer at Al-Aqsa Mosque and printed pictures of the crowds filling the yards of the mosque compound.
They said more than 400,000 Muslim worshippers also attended Lailat al-Qadr prayer at Al-Aqsa Mosque. Lailat al-Qadr, which is always marked in the night of the 26th day of Ramadan, is believed to be the night the Quran, the Muslim holy book, was first revealed to Prophet Mohammad and is considered the most revered night for Muslims during which they keep an all-night worship.
In other news, the Mecca summit was highlighted on the front page of the three dailies, but more so in al-Hayat al-Jadida, which highlighted quotes from President Mahmoud Abbas criticizing the United States for trying to bring down international law and the United Nations, and reiterating the boycott of the US-sponsored Manama meeting.
The three papers said the UN has announced that it will not take part in the Manama meeting.
Al-Ayyam said in a story on its front page that the Palestinians see in the American so-called deal of the century as an end to their dream of an independent state, while it quoted an Israeli official saying the deal of the century talks about Abu Dis as a Palestinian capital instead of Jerusalem.
It quoted a political source in Gaza saying that Israel was not honoring the terms of the calm understandings reached with the factions in Gaza.
Al-Ayyam said in another story taken from a Spanish newspaper that Israel was selling goods the European Union has contributed to the Palestinians.
It said millions marked Al-Quds Day in 30 countries and more than 150 cities around the world.
Al-Quds said in a report by the Israeli rights group, B’Tselem that as Israel marks the anniversary of its occupation of Jerusalem, it aims at increasing Jewish presence in the occupied city while demolishing more Palestinian homes in order to create a demographic balance favoring the Jews.
It also said that the Allenby/King Hussein/Karameh crossing with Jordan is going to be open 24 hours a day, except Fridays and Saturdays, starting today.
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