Newspapers review: Stabbing attack, PLO’s statement focus of dailies

The stabbing attack carried out near the Israeli military checkpoint of Huwara and the PLO Executive Committee’s statement hit the front page headlines in Palestinian dailies on Friday.

Al-Quds reported that an Israeli soldier and a female settler were injured in a stabbing attack at Huwara checkpoint, south of the northern West Bank city of Nablus.

It added that Israeli forces pursued and detained the ]Palestinian[ assailant, reportedly identified as Mu'taz Qassem Hussein, 19, from the Nablus-district village of Jamma'in.

The bystander settlers was reportedly injured by Israeli live ammunition after Israeli forces opened fire at the suspected Palestinian assailant, who was witnessed to have suffered injuries due to being shot with live ammunition.

The dailies added that Israeli forces sealed off all main entrances to Nablus district, including Huwara and Zaatara checkpoints, as well as Innab checkpoint, reportedly causing large traffic jams.

According to al-Ayyam, Israeli forces conducted raids across several West Bank districts. During the raids, al-Hayat al-Jadida added, a total of 12 Palestinians were detained.

Highlighting demolitions, al-Ayyam and al-Hayat al-Jadida said that Israeli bulldozers demolished structures and animal pens in the northern Jordan Valley.

They added that Israeli forces leveled Palestinian farmlands and uprooted olive trees and grapevines in al-Khader, south of Bethlehem.

In contrast, al-Hayat al-Jadida reported the Palestine Liberation Organization’s (PLO) Executive Committee reaffirming its absolute rejection of the scheme to separate the Gaza Strip from the West Bank and ]East[ Jerusalem- a theme which was also covered in al-Quds and al-Ayyam.

Al-Hayat al-Jadida added in this regard that the State of Palestine would take political and legal measures to confront any party attempting to infringe upon the PLO’s political and legal mandate.

Moreover, al-Quds spotlighted an Israeli plan to construct steel parking towers near Bab al-Amoud and Bab al-Nabi Dawud, also known as Damascus Gate and Zion Gate, in Jerusalem.

Regarding the closure of the PLO Delegation Office in Washington DC, al-Ayyam and al-Hayat al-Jadida said that a demonstration was held outside the office in protest of the closure.

Al-Quds added that despite the office closure, the Palestinian flag will remain hoisted at the building.

Al-Ayyam printed a photo for the plaque, which identifies the building as the PLO Delegation Office, being removed.

 Al-Hayat al-Jadida went on to report that Foreign Ministry stating that it would consider alternative ways for the provision of consular services to the Palestinian community in the US.

Yet, al-Quds highlighted the Israeli government-commissioned Jerusalem 2050 Master Plan, also known as Jerusalem 5800, deigned to fulfill Israel’s vision for the city.

It said that the plan envisions minimizing Palestinian presence in the city through the construction of highways and rail lines  to connect Ben Gurion airport with the Jordan Valley.

Besides, al-Quds and al-Hayat al-Jadida said Israel has announced a plan to construct 31 new settler units in the southern West Bank city of Hebron and expand Amichai settlement, illegally built on lands belonging to Turmusayya village, north of Ramallah.

According to both dailies, the Palestinian Higher Fatwa Council stated that it was religiously prohibited to sell Palestinian property to Israeli occupation authorities.

This statement came several days following the revelation that Israeli Jewish settlers have taken over a Palestinian house belonging to the Joudeh family in Jerusalem’s Old City.

Al-Ayyam printed a report indicating growing criticism of Qatar’s role in the besieged Gaza Strip following the delivery of Qatari-funded fuel to Gaza’s sole power plant without the Palestinian Authority’s consent.

Labor Minister Mamoun Abu Shahla was reported in al-Ayyam and al-Hayat al-Jadida announcing the commencement of the mandatory implementation of the Social Security Law on November 1, 2018.

According to al-Ayyam, Israeli forces opened fire at protests along Gaza’s eastern border, injuring four protestors.

Al-Hayat al-Jadida reported Fatah stating that Hamas’ measures and actions in Gaza are tantamount to the implementation of US President Donald Trump’s plan, dubbed deal of the century, which demands Palestinians to concede Jerusalem and the refugees’ right of return.

It added that the Organization of Islamic Cooperation reiterated its support for the peace plan proposed by President Mahmoud Abbas before the UN Security Council.

Regionally, al-Quds and al-Ayyam reported that Turkey and Saudi Arabia agreed to set up a joint team to investigate the disappearance of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi, who was likely killed inside the Saudi consulate in Istanbul.