RAMALLAH, May 25, 2016 (WAFA) – French Foreign Minister Manuel Valls’ visit to Israel and the occupied Palestinian Territories to push the French bid to hold an international peace conference hit the front page headlines in the dailies.

The three dailies reported Valls as affirming that the international peace conference would be convened as scheduled.

He was reported in al-Ayyam as stating that Israeli settlements continue to bite into Palestinian territory, while he reportedly said in al-Hayat al-Jadida that French and Europeans are aware that their security and stability are contingent upon Middle East peace.

US Department of State was reported in al-Quds as calling into question Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s proposal to hold direct negotiations with Palestinians.  

Highlighting Prime Minister Rami Hamdallah’s remarks during a press conference with Valls, al-Quds reported him as reiterating support for the French bid.

Al-Hayat al-Jadida reported him as calling on the world to salvage the two-state solution and slamming Netanyahu’s direct negotiations proposal as an attempt to “buy time” and thwart the French bid.

On the other hand, President Mahmoud Abbas’ remarks during the World Humanitarian Summit in Istanbul also hit the front page headlines in al-Ayyam and al-Hayat al-Jadida.

He was reported in both newspapers as stating the Palestinian people will not accept to continue to living under ]Israeli[ occupation not accept the status quo to continue.

He was also reported in al-Hayat al-Jadida as expressing the Palestinian Authority’s readiness to host thousands of refugees whom have been displaced by regional wars and violence.

In addition, the three dailies covered Israeli demolition campaign against Palestinian houses in Jerusalem.

Al-Quds and al-Ayyam said Israeli forces demolished Palestinian structures, including a house, and leveled Palestinian lands in the Jerusalem town of al-Issawiya. They also said forces demolished a storage facility in the Jerusalem neighborhood of Silwan.

Al-Ayyam and al-Hayat al-Jadida reported that Israeli forces delivered orders for the evacuation and dismantlement of two Palestinian houses in Jabal al-Baba Bedouin community, east of Jerusalem.

Al-Ayyam also reported that Israeli forces delivered demolition notices for four water wells, three agricultural structures and a three-kilometer agricultural road in the village of Qusra in southern Nablus.

Highlighting settlers’ vandalism of Palestinian property in Hebron, al-Quds said Israeli settlers stormed two uninhabited Palestinian houses in Hebron’s Old City and stole wooden furniture.

The three dailies said Israeli Public Security Minister Gilad Erdan announced that he had ordered Israeli police to suspend the return of bodies of Palestinians killed by Israeli forces.

Al-Ayyam highlighted the announcement of B’Tselem, an Israeli human rights organization, that they would no longer submit complaints to the Israeli military prosecution regarding mistreatment of Palestinians.

B’Tselem was quoted describing Israeli military prosecution as “a system whose real function is measured by its ability to continue to successfully cover up unlawful acts and protect perpetrators.”

K.F.