RAMALLAH, Friday, June 14, 2019 (WAFA) – The Palestine Liberation Organization’s (PLO) Executive Committee’s call for boycotting the upcoming US-sponsored economic workshop in Manama dominated the front page headlines in Friday’s issue of the three Palestinian Arabic dailies.

The PLO Executive Committee was reported in al-Quds and al-Hayat al-Jadida stating: “We reject the US-led workshop in Manama” and “We have not delegated any party to negotiate on the behalf of the Palestinian people.”

It was also quoted in al-Hayat al-Jadida stressing that “the results of the workshop shall be considered null and void not will they create an obligation.”

The dailies added that the PLO Executive Committee called on all Arab countries and other parties invited to attend the workshop to refrain from doing so and adhere to the Arab Peace Initiative.

Additionally, the dailies highlighted Israel’s decision to seize 4,800 dunum of Palestinian land belonging to Yatta and Bani Naim towns in the southern West Bank district of Hebron.

Al-Quds added that Israeli occupation authorities have decided to demolish 100 Palestinian apartments in Sur Baher, south of Jerusalem.

On the other hand, al-Ayyam opted to spotlight the attack on the two oil tankers in the Sea of Oman in its main front page item.

It elaborated that the attack aggravates tensions in the Gulf region amidst calls for avoiding provocations and showing self-restraint.

Moreover, the dailies said that Israel conducted airstrikes on the besieged Gaza Strip, pounding targets in Gaza and Rafah.

Al-Ayyam added that Palestinian factions in Gaza offer a chance to the Egyptian efforts aimed to pressurize Israel to lift the maritime blockade.

The dailies said that Israeli bulldozers razed 5 dunums of Palestinian land belonging to Asira al-Qibliya village, south of Nablus, in order to expand a military camp.

According to al-Ayyam, Israeli forces detained 16 Palestinians in multiple overnight raids across the West Bank.

According to al-Hayat al-Jadida, Israeli settlers assaulted a Palestinian and his son from Deir Nitham village, northwest of Ramallah, and punctured the tires of two Palestinian vehicles in Einabous village, south of Nablus.

It added Palestinian prisoners in the Israeli jail of Asqalan have decided to go on a hunger strike starting on Sunday.

Al-Quds and al-Ayyam said that Israeli police held the Director of the Islamic Waqf’s Restoration and Reconstruction Department along with two other staffs for carrying out minor restorations inside Al-Aqsa Mosque compound.

They reported that the advocate general of the European Court of Justice released a legal opinion recommending that products originating from the Israeli settlements in the occupied territories should be labeled as such.

Al-Hayat al-Jadida added in this regard that Foreign and Expatriates Minister Riad al-Malki welcomes the European Court of Justice’s decision to label settlement products.

The United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres was reported in the dailies reiterating the UN’s commitment to the two-state solution.

The dailies said that Romania has stressed to Jordan its commitment not to relocate its embassy to Israel from Tel Aviv to Jordan.

Jordanian Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi was reported in al-Hayat al-Jadida announcing that his country has not yet decided to attend the upcoming US-led workshop in Bahrain.

According to al-Ayyam and al-Hayat al-Jadida, senior PLO official Azzam al-Ahmad awarded Saber Murad, a Palestinian refugee who tackled a suicide bomber in Tripoli during Eid, the Medal of Bravery.

Premier Mohammad Shtayyeh was reported in al-Hayat al-Jadida stating: “Anyone who thinks we are seeking an economic solution is wrong, because the issue is connected with ending the Israeli occupation.”

K.F.