'You are my partner,' Netanyahu tells Abbas

The main item of Israel-related coverage in the UK media today is the opening of direct talks between Israeli and Palestinian leaders in Washington yesterday. The Guardian also notes the partial closure of the West Bank following the murder of four Israelis earlier this week, and, together with the Times, the determination of West Bank settlers to resume construction. The Daily Telegraph reports that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is ruling out an extension of the settlement freeze. The Times notes Hamas opposition to the talks. The Independent has a comment piece contrasting what the writer holds to be Obama's 'realism' in contrast to the 'fantasies' of Tony Blair regarding the Middle East. Several news sources note that in his memoirs, former prime minister Tony Blair said that the West should be prepared to use force against Iran if necessary to prevent it developing a nuclear weapon. Metro-London notes that the terror attack earlier this week will 'haunt' the peace talks. The Guardian has a comment piece by a Palestinian academic who is opposed to the peace talks. The Financial Times notes a call from a number of Israeli writers for a boycott of West Bank settlements. The Scotsman and Reuters report the PA's arrest of 150 Hamas members following the attack earlier this week. The Scotsman also quotes Defence Minister Ehud Barak on the possibility that Israel will make concessions on Jerusalem in the framework of a final status accord.

In the Israeli media, all papers note the launching of the talks yesterday. All papers also report on a second Hamas terror attack in the West Bank yesterday. Haaretz has an additional piece revealing that a famed Nazi hunter was connected to the Israeli intelligence services. The Jerusalem Post and Maariv quote PM Netanyahu's speech in which he said he was committed to 'historic compromise' with the Palestinians. Ynetnews notes the resumption of construction by West Bank settlers.

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