Israel and PA to confirm agreement on negotiating committees

In the UK and international media today, most papers note the naval incident in the Straits of Hormuz yesterday, in which Iranian gunboats made threatening manoeuvres close to three US Navy ships.  The Guardian, Daily Mail, Daily Telegraph, Times, Daily Express, Independent, Financial Times, Scotsman, Glasgow Herald, Sun Online, Daily Mirror, Reuters and BBC Online all have coverage of the incident. In other stories, the Financial Times reports on President Bush's visit to Israel, and has an additional article on the ongoing violence in Gaza. Reuters notes Israeli and Palestinian efforts to close gaps in the build up to the Bush visit, and also quotes leaders of the Sunni Islamist Fatah al-Islam organization who have threatened renewed attacks on the Lebanese army. BBC Online, meanwhile, looks into President Bush's likely legacy in the Middle East, notes controversy over building in the Har Homa neighbourhood, and has additional piece on the lingering influence of the policies and ideas of former Prime Minister Ariel Sharon. Meanwhile the Guardian notes the appointment by the Board of Deputies of British Jews of a Muslim adviser. The paper also has an article on the search for the last Nazi war criminals. And the Independent notes the immigration to Britain of Lev Leviev, Israel's richest man.

In the Israeli media, all papers deal with the build up to the Bush visit. Haaretz has a piece examining claims that a ceasefire could have been achieved early in last year's Lebanon War. The paper has additional pieces on an agreement between Israel and the PA for the composition of the committee that will discuss final status issues, and the refusal of some Arab NGOs in Israel to accept assistance from philanthropists who support Israel remaining a Jewish state. Meanwhile, the Jerusalem Post has a report suggesting that the US is considering supporting a temporary international force in the West Bank, and runs additional pieces on Secretary of State Rice's criticisms of Iran yesterday, and internal Israeli political rumours in the build up to the release of the final Winograd Report. Ynetnews and Maariv quote Defence Minister Barak on Hezbollah's growing strength, and Ynetnews has pieces on Foreign Minister Livni, on Israel's determination to dismantle illegal outposts, and on an IDF investigation into a recent incident in Nablus in which a Palestinian civilian was wounded.

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