Blair initiates high-level committee to coordinate security and movement

The main item of Israel-related coverage in the UK media today is the visit yesterday by US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice to Egypt, and the subsequent expressions of Egyptian support for the planned Annapolis meeting. In other stories, the Guardian, Independent, Financial Times and BBC Online report on Russian President Vladimir Putin's visit to Iran, and his endorsement there of Iran's right to a civil nuclear programme. The Independent reports on the Likud's opposition to the re-division of Jerusalem. The Scotsman, meanwhile, has an article on possible progress in the talks intended to lead to the freeing of kidnapped soldiers Eldad Regev and Ehud Goldwasser, who are believed to be held by Hezbollah. The paper also runs an article by a Saudi prince advocating greater European involvement in Mid-East diplomacy. Reuters runs a piece on an increase in the price of weapons in the West Bank. BBC Online, meanwhile, has additional articles on an IDF operation in the West bank, and an assessment of the chances for a successful outcome in the current US attempt to revive the Mid-East peace process.

In the Israeli media, all papers focus on the behind the scenes negotiations intended to secure the release of the IDF soldiers kidnapped by Hezbollah, and on statements in this regard made yesterday by Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah. In other news, Haaretz notes a new initiative by Quartet Middle East envoy Tony Blair for the monitoring progress in the implementation of Israeli and Palestinian commitments until a final-status solution is put in place. The Jerusalem Post has additional pieces on Secretary of State Rice's plans for further meetings with Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and PA Chairman Mahmoud Abbas, and an article on the initial approval for the new Mughrabi Bridge plan. Ynetnews, meanwhile, notes pessimism among Israeli MKs regarding the possibility of success in the Annapolis meeting. Maariv notes claims in an Arab newspaper that Hezbollah has provided concrete information on the fate of the two IDF soldiers it kidnapped, and the paper has a report on Defence Minister Barak's visit to Washington.

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