Newspapers Review: Clashes with soldiers near Ramallah focus of dailies

Clashes between stone-throwing Palestinians and Israeli soldiers at Ramallah’s northern entrance were highlighted on the front page of the three Palestinian Arabic dailies on Wednesday. They said dozens of people were injured from tear gas and rubber bullets.

The papers also reported on Israeli fanatics holding provocative dances outside the gates to Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem’s old city.

They also focused on Khan al-Ahmar village, east of Jerusalem, and the possibility of demolishing it at any time, while quoting Amnesty International saying demolition of Khan al-Ahmar is a war crime.

Al-Ayyam said Israeli settlers are dumping their sewage on Khan al-Ahmar as part of their war against the Palestinian community.

It said 112 US members of congress have called on their secretary of state to resume financing of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) and Palestinian hospitals in East Jerusalem.

Al-Quds said a general strike has paralyzed UNRWA operations in Gaza for the second day in a row. The employees were protesting cuts in services and dismissal of employees.

Al-Hayat al-Jadida quoted in its main front page story President Mahmoud Abbas telling a visiting delegation that popular resistance is critical in confronting conspiracies against the Palestinian people and their cause.

It said Fatah in Gaza organized a mass wedding for 360 prides and grooms to help them overcome the high cost of wedding parties.

It said Palestinians in Ramallah held a sit-in protest demanding that Israel releases Raja Ighbarieh, member of the political bureau of Abna al-Balad movement inside Israel. Ighbarieh, a leading Palestinian political figure in Israel, was arrested one month ago for alleged incitement in his social media writings.

Al-Hayat al-Jadida also said the Tunisian president received in his office Palestinian civil protest icon, 17-year-old Ahed Tamimi.