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Media Summary

Earthquake on Iran-Iraq border kills at least 328 people

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BBC News Online, the Guardian, the Times, the Independent, and the FT all report on the earthquake on the Iran-Iraq border that has killed at least 328 people.

The Mail Online reports that Israeli officials have given a lukewarm reaction to an international agreement laying out principles for a post-war Syria. The agreement, announced in a US-Russian statement on Saturday, confirmed the importance of “de-escalation areas”.

Much of the UK media covers the ongoing story of Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe, the British women imprisoned in Iran. BBC News Online and the Guardian cover comments by her husband, Richard Ratcliffe. He also appeared on the Radio 4 Today programme this morning. He discussed the concern caused by Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson mistakenly saying she was training journalists and, that she has seen a specialist after finding lumps in her breast. Johnson said at a meeting of EU Foreign Ministers that he is working very hard to secure her release.  The Times highlights Environment Secretary Michael Gove’s comments on the Andrew Marr Show  in which he said that he did not know why Zaghari-Ratcliffe was in Iran. She has always insisted she was on holiday.

The Mail Online reports that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday warned Palestinian militants against carrying out attacks in revenge for the blowing up of a tunnel from Gaza into Israel.

BBC News Online, the Times, and the Telegraph report that Lebanon’s Prime Minister Saad Hariri has said that he will return to Lebanon from Saudi Arabia “in days” to formally submit his resignation.

The Guardian covers a report by Amnesty International that accuses Bashar al-Assad’s Syrian regime of employing a “starve or surrender strategy” against civilian populations.

The Times reports that hundreds of bodies have been found in what appears to be an ISIS mass grave in northern Iraq. The site was discovered at a military base near the town of Hawija.

Nick Butler in the FT questions whether the oil market is expecting a new Mideast war based on the fact that the oil price has risen by almost 20% over the last four weeks. Butler argues that the price increase has been driven by speculation over Iran-Saudi tensions and the recent anti-corruption purges in Saudi Arabia. He concludes that “If the risk of conflict recedes so will the oil price”.

Maariv reports the understandings reached between the US, Russia and Jordan to create a buffer zone in Syria to prevent Iran or her proxies operating near Israel’s border with Syria.  Although there has been no official reponse, Haaretz notes Israeli disappointment as the agreement does not set deadlines and is unclear how the deal will be implemented.

Yediot Ahronot, Israel Hayom and Maariv all focus on the potential for a revenge attack from Islamic Jihad following the destruction of an attack tunnel into Israel last week.  Israel  Hayom report there is an imminent threat of a reprisal attack. Maariv follow the build-up of IDF forces in the south.  According to Yediot Ahronot there were two constraints that have now been removed.The first was that four of its men who were trapped in the tunnel had been killed and their bodies cannot be recovered. The second constraint, the “paralysis” of the internal Palestinian reconciliation agreement, means Hamas are less likely to restrain them.

All the papers report the earthquake on the Iran-Iraq border that was felt in Israel.  It is reported to have a magnitude of 7.3 and left over 200 people dead.

Israel Hayom covers an Amnesty International report that accuses the Syrian regime of crimes again humanity, “Whole civilian populations who have suffered horrific sieges and been subjected to intensive bombardments have been given no choice but to leave or die under so-called “reconciliation” agreements between the Syrian government and armed opposition groups”.

Haaretz report that Saudi Arabia is fully backing PA Chairman Abbas regarding the implementation of the Palestinian reunification agreement with Hamas.  In particular, they support his demand that Hamas should disarm in the West Bank and the Gaza strip.

Haaretz continue to report the crisis in Lebanon and Hariri ‘s first interview from Saudi Arabia  where he denied he was being held against his will.   He argued he was trying to serve Lebanon’s interests and to protect the country from Iran and Hezbollah, who are trying to take over Lebanon.

Yediot Ahronot leads on revelations from Mickey Ganor, the state witness in the submarine and naval vessels affair – Case 3000.  Prior to becoming a police witness he hired a private detective agency to gather information for him.  He told police detectives that he felt he was about to be the subject of a pressure campaign: “I felt that I was being extorted.”

Haaretz report the story of a letter written by Prince Charles in 1986 blamed the “influx of foreign Jews” for tension in the Middle East, and asked the U.S. president to stand up to the “Jewish lobby”.