Newspapers Review: Concern over expected demolition of Khan al-Ahmar focus of dailies

Rising concern at home and internationally over Israeli plans to demolish Khan al-Ahmar village, east of Jerusalem, was highlighted on the front page of the three Palestinian Arabic dailies on Wednesday.

Al-Ayyam, which made this subject its main front page story, said efforts are underway on the ground and politically to prevent the demolition.

Al-Quds said five European countries have called on Israel not to demolish the village.

Al-Hayat al-Jadida and al-Quds said the Israeli military authorities closed all roads leading to Khan al-Ahmar to prevent activists from reaching it.

Al-Hayat al-Jadida said activists were also able to build another community nearby called al-Wad al-Ahmar (or the Red Valley).

Al-Quds quoted Saeb Erekat, secretary general of the Executive Committee of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO), saying that Palestine has delivered a submission to the International Criminal Court (ICC) over Khan al-Ahmar.

Erekat was also quoted in al-Hayat al-Jadida saying that the Palestinians will continue to work with the ICC regardless of the US bullying. He also said President Mahmoud Abbas is going to address the United Nations General Assembly on September 27.

Al-Quds said Abbas is going to first travel to France and meet Emmanuel Macron before he travels to New York for the UN meetings.

Al-Ayyam quoted President Abbas’ spokesman, Nabil Abu Rudeineh, saying that the PLO’s Central Council is going to meet after the return of the president from the UN.

On the American decision to close the PLO office in Washington, al-Quds quoted a US official saying the PLO has to end its work in the US on Thursday, while al-Ayyam quoted officials saying the office will close before October 10 after all employees are dismissed and the office is evacuated.

Al-Quds quoted a Palestinian source saying that US President Donald Trump is going to declare re-settlement of the Palestinian refugees next year and that a US delegation headed by Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner is going to travel to the region soon to discuss this matter.

The paper also quoted observers saying the US is pushing the Palestinians to accept its so-called deal of the century.

Al-Ayyam said Jewish settlers set up homes for a new settlement outpost in the Jordan Valley.

Al-Quds reported on the intra-Palestinian reconciliation and quoted Hamas saying that reconciliation efforts are continuing.

It quoted former Hamas leader Khaled Meshal saying that Hamas wants the Israeli blockade on Gaza to end without going through direct negotiations. It also quoted an Israeli military official ruling out the possibility of reaching a deal with Hamas on calm.

Al-Hayat al-Jadida quoted President Abbas saying after meeting a Palestinian delegation that it is important to support Jerusalem and its holy places.

Al-Quds said that September 13 marks 25 years for signing the Oslo accords between the PLO and Israel.