The Independent reports that at least 304 people were killed and thousands more injured during anti-government protests across Iran last month, according to Amnesty International.

BBC News reports that riot police and anti-government demonstrators have clashed for a second night in Beirut, leaving dozens of people wounded. Protesters threw bottles and fireworks at officers, who responded with tear gas and water cannon. The Independent reports that Lebanon has postponed talks to name a new prime minister following a weekend of violent clashes with anti-government demonstrators in Beirut. Sky News reports that Lebanon’s government was once again forced to delay the nomination of the prime minister on Monday, after the country was rocked by some of the worst violence since protests began.

The Associated Press reports that protesters in the Arab world’s newest uprisings ‘face a long haul’, differing from the 2011 Arab Spring in that these economically-driven uprisings aim to dislodge an entire class of politicians and an ostensibly broken system that has failed to provide socio-economic security.

The Guardian reports that veteran Israeli politician Gideon Saar has launched his bid to unseat prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu as head of the ruling Likud party. The Associated Press reports that although Saar is still a decided underdog to the embattled prime minister, he seems to be gaining traction ahead of the 26 December vote among the party faithful.

The Independent reports that Boris Johnson will attempt to pass a law banning local councils from joining the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) campaign against Israel, the UK’s special envoy for post-Holocaust issues has announced.

BBC News reports a Turkish military drone has arrived at a base in Turkish-backed northern Cyprus to help controversial gas exploration projects near the island.

The Times reports that President Erdogan warned that he may shut down the main NATO airbase in Turkey, as increasingly toxic relations between Ankara and Washington threatened the home of US nuclear bombers in the region.

Channel 4 News has commissioned a series of short documentary films, collectively named ‘Inside Idlib’, which aim to provide an insight into life and death in Syria’s last bastion of resistance and the government’s mission to destroy it.

BBC News reports that Iran’s threat to British shipping in the Gulf “hasn’t gone away”. Admiral Tony Radakin – giving his first interview since becoming First Sea Lord in June – described the Iranian threat to British shipping interests as “aggressive” and “outrageous”.

Reuters reports that Qatar’s foreign minister said recent talks had broken a protracted stalemate with Saudi Arabia and that Doha would study demands by its Gulf rivals but not turn its back on ally Turkey.

The Telegraph reports that Bashar al-Assad, the Syrian president, revealed he is in talks with China to join its Belt and Road Initiative, as he looks for funding to rebuild Syria and Beijing looks to extend its regional influence.

Reuters reports that U.S. Defense Secretary Mark Esper said on Monday he spoke with Iraqi Prime Minister Adel Abdul Mahdi amid a spate of attacks on bases housing U.S. forces in Iraq and called on Baghdad to take steps to get the situation under control.

The Israeli media have followed up a report on Lebanese TV about a draft of the US plan for Israeli-Palestinian talks. The US plan allegedly proposes that Israel sign a trilateral agreement with the Palestinian Authority and Hamas, that the state of “New Palestine” would be established in the West Bank and Gaza Strip, without the settlement blocs, which will remain part of Israel. Jerusalem will not to be divided. The Jordan Valley would remain as it is today, and Route 90 will be expanded to four lanes, with two separate lanes for Palestinians. New Palestine will also have a road to connection to Jordan, which will be under Palestinian supervision. In addition, Egypt will make territory that is adjacent to the Gaza Strip available for New Palestine. That territory will be used as farmland, as well as for commerce, an airport and factories. The Gaza Strip’s borders would be opened to facilitate global trade via the crossings into Israel and Egypt, as well as access to the sea.

All the Israeli media report on Gideon Saar’s Likud leadership campaign launch. Speaking at a rally in Or Yehuda, Saar said that a left-wing government was likely to be formed unless a change were made. Saar said re-electing Netanyahu as Likud leader would be tantamount to electing the next leader of the opposition and Blue and White were hoping that the Likud would make no change as that would work to their advantage.

Ynet reports that the newly elected Conservative government is planning to pass a law banning public bodies from engaging with the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions movement. Earlier this week Lord Eric Pickles, the UK Special Envoy for Post-Holocaust issues was in Israel and told a conference in Jerusalem that the new law would ban public agencies from working with anyone who boycotts Israel. Pickles is quoted saying: “BDS is antisemitic and should be treated as such.” However, the law will not include goods produced in the West Bank as the UK does not recognise Israeli sovereignty there.