RAMALLAH, April 17, 2012 (WAFA) – Tuesday’s issue of the three Palestinian Arabic dailies highlighted the open-ended hunger strike hundreds of Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails have started on Tuesday, coinciding with the Palestinian Prisoner Day.

Al-Hayat al-Jadida reported that popular and official activities commemorating Prisoner Day started on Monday in the Jenin-area town of Arraba, hometown of the Palestinian prisoner Khader Adnan, who went on hunger strike for 66 days protesting his administrative detention.

Al-Hayat al-Jadida and al-Quds newspapers printed pictures of the activities in Arraba, featuring participants raising pictures of prisoner Hussam Khader, who has been arrested 26 times in Israeli jails.

The prime headline in al-Ayyam daily quoted President Mahmoud Abbas, during his visit to Sri Lanka on Monday, stressing that he hopes to implement the reconciliation agreement after Hamas finishes its internal elections, which may take another month.

Al-Quds reported that only two international activists, out of several hundreds, reached Bethlehem on Monday as part of the “Welcome to Palestine” campaign in solidarity with the Palestinian people.

The daily reported on the Israeli authority’s strict measures prohibiting activists from entering Israel and detaining some at Ben Gurion airport, as well as European airlines cancelling around 60% of flight bookings in response to requests made by Israel.

Al-Ayyam highlighted report of a video of a senior Israeli officer brutally striking a Danish activist in the face with his weapon during his participation in a cycling tour around the Jordan Valley on Saturday.  The headline said the Israeli army had to suspend the Israeli officer following wide condemnation of the assault.

Al-Quds featured sources close to Hamas saying that results of the movement’s politburo elections in Gaza remain confidential; indicating that Hamas leader Khaled Meshaal is the strongest candidate to head the movement.

The dailies featured statements by Tayeb Abdul Rahim, secretary general of President Mahmoud Abbas, that the Iranian role in the region is provocative and aims to create tension in the Palestinian arena and the Arab Gulf in particular, and the Arab World in general.

Al-Quds editorial praised the united stand of the prisoners to go on an open-ended hunger strike. The daily called on the Palestinian people and leadership to provide popular and official support for the prisoners in their struggle against the Israeli authorities.

R.Q./M.S.