RAMALLAH, June 13, 2012 (WAFA) – Statements President Mahmoud Abbas made on Tuesday regarding the Jordan Valley saying that it belongs to the Palestinians and that the River Jordan is the border of the future Palestinian state was the main front page story on the Wednesday issue of the three Palestinian Arabic dailies.

Abbas’ statement came during signing ceremonies held in Ramallah of an agreement to develop the Jericho industrial and agricultural area that is funded by Japan.

The second main front page story in the dailies was a report from the Israeli daily Haaretz that talked about thousands of Palestinians who have lost their right to live in their homeland since Israel had occupied the West Bank and Gaza Strip in 1967.

Al-Quds main headline said Israel did not allow 250,000 Palestinians who had left the West Bank and Jerusalem since their occupation in 1967 to return to them.

The Vatican explaining its position on occupied Jerusalem saying that this position has not changed was also highlighted on the front page of the three dailies. The Vatican’s explanation came after Palestinians have complained about  an agreement the Vatican plans to sign with Israel regarding church property in occupied East Jerusalem that would recognize Israel’s jurisdiction over the occupied city, which would be a violation of standing Vatican principles and international law.

A planned visit by Russian President Vladimir Putin to the Palestinian Territory on June 26 was also reported on the front page. The announcement of the visit was made during a reception the Russian representative office had held in Ramallah on Tuesday celebrating Russia’s National Day. In addition to meeting Abbas, Putin will also inaugurate a new Russian cultural center in Bethlehem that will kick off Russian cultural week.

The papers also reported on the Israeli demolition of a house in the East Jerusalem neighborhood of Beit Hanina and plans to demolish many other houses in the West Bank.

M.S.