The political developments in the Middle East
RAMALLAH, October 2, 2017 (WAFA) – The arrival of Prime Minister Rami Hamdallah and an Egyptian delegation as part of fresh attempt to restore Palestinian national unity dominated the front page headlines in Palestinian Arabic dailies on Monday.
The dailies reported the national consensus government headed by Hamdallah was due to make its first visit to the besieged Gaza enclave to assume its responsibilities and hold a cabinet meeting the next day.
Hamdallah was reported in al-Hayat al-Jadida and al-Ayyam expressing his determination to assume his role in terms of supporting reconciliation efforts.
The dailies reported an Egyptian security delegation headed by Egypt’s ambassador to Israel Hazem Khairat, arrived to Gaza to oversee the implementation of Fatah-Hamas understandings regarding the planned handover of control of the besieged enclave to the national unity government.
Housing Minister Mufid Hasayneh was reported in al-Quds announcing President Mahmoud Abbas would arrive to Gaza soon.
Al-Ayyam also reported in this context Hamas freed five prisoners belonging to Fatah party, while the dailies added Hamas head Ismail Haniyeh called on Abbas on Sunday evening to discuss preparations for Monday’s visit.
Covering West Bank raids, al-Quds said Israeli forces shot and injured a number of Palestinians during separate raids into Dheisheh refugee camp and the town of Doha in Bethlehem.
The dailies added Israel has imposed an 11-day closure on the West Bank and the Gaza Strip from the start of the Jewish holiday of Sukkot on Wednesday evening.
Al-Quds and al-Ayyam highlighted an Israeli plan to isolate East Jerusalem from the remainder of the West Bank.
They added the plan would ensure Jewish majority in Jerusalem and allow only 30,000 Palestinians to remain in the occupied city.
Highlighting a survey conducted by the Palestinian Center for Policy and Survey Research, al-Quds reported Israel is systematically targeting over 60 percent of the West Bank for annexation and settlement expansion.
Al-Hayat al-Jadida said Israeli forces prevented Palestinian farmers from the town of Azzun, east of Qalqiliya, from accessing their farms to pick up olives.
Al-Quds reported the so-called Israeli Civil Administration plans to carry out infrastructure development projects at Hebron’s Ibrahimi Mosque, while al-Hayat al-Jadida reported the Municipality of Hebron denying Israeli allegations that the municipality has refused to carry out such projects.
The dailies also reported Palestinian Orthodox Christians, who convened a conference in Bethlehem, withdrew recognition from Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Jerusalem Theophilos III over sale of church property to Israeli Jewish settler groups.
K.F./M.K.
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