Newspapers Review: Israeli killing of Palestinian in West Bank town focus of dailies

The Israeli army killing of a Palestinian in the town of Tammoun in the north of the West Bank was the focus of the Palestinian dailies on Thursday.

The army shot and killed Mohammad Bsharat, 23, during an early morning raid of Tammoun and injured six others, said the papers.

The forced evacuation of an apartment in the East Jerusalem neighborhood of Silwan in order to turn it over to Jewish settlers was also highlighted on the front page of the dailies. The apartment is located in a five-story building reportedly sold by the owners to the settlers.

The three papers also highlighted Israeli police assault on Coptic monks at the Church of the Holy Sepulcher in Jerusalem’s Old City who were protesting Israeli interference in church affairs.

Al-Hayat al-Jadida highlighted remarks by President Mahmoud Abbas in which he said the upcoming Palestinian Central Council is going to discuss and take action against American and Israeli measures, as well as what to do regarding the Gaza Strip, which is under Hamas rule.

It said Fatah warned against a smear campaign aimed at the president and the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO).

It reported on the Palestinian cabinet’s statement on the Human Rights Watch report in which it said it was going to study it and respond to it.

Al-Ayyam quoted presidential spokesman Nabil Abu Rudeineh saying that there will be no peace or security without a fully sovereign Palestinian state on the 1967 borders with Jerusalem as its capital. It said these remarks came in response to the Israeli premier on the Palestinian state, which he said will be less than a state and more than an autonomy.

The paper reported on Israeli plans to expand Highway 60 between Bethlehem and Hebron for the benefit of the Israeli settlers.

Al-Quds reported on the European Parliament’s vote against cutting aid to Palestinian education and supported giving more financial aid to the UN Palestine refugee agency, UNRWA.

It said an Egyptian delegation discussion reconciliation between Fatah and Hamas and calm with Israel with Palestinian factions in Gaza.

The paper quoted former US consul general in Jerusalem. Jake Wallace, saying that the latest US decision to close the consulate and merge it with the US embassy is a blow to prospects of peace.

The three papers continued reporting on developments in the case of the killing of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi as well as on the suspicious mail sent to US officials.