Israel expected to present 'package of gestures' at Monday's regional summit

In the UK and international media today, the papers continue to follow the situation in the Palestinian Authority and the upcoming regional summit that will be hosted by Egypt on Monday. The Guardian has a piece claiming that Hamas launched its takeover to preempt a US-backed coup. The Daily Telegraph notes Egyptian concern at Hamas control of Gaza and the support the Islamic movement receives from Iran. The paper also runs an article expressing the hope that the Hamas coup might help revive dialogue between Israel and moderate Palestinians. Reuters and Metro-London note Israel's decision to ease restrictions on cargo entering Gaza, and BBC Online reports on rival Fatah and Hamas web-sites promoting their movements' version of events in Gaza. The Independent notes PA Chairman Mahmoud Abbas's determination to push for final status talks at Monday's summit in Sharm al-Sheikh. New Statesman publishes an article looking at the recent developments in the region and rejecting the current calls for boycott of Israeli institutions in Britain. The Guardian, Glasgow Herald, and Financial Times note the possibility that PM Tony Blair will become the International Quartet's Middle East envoy. Jewish News publishes an interview with PM Tony Blair. Jewish News and the Jewish Chronicle have pieces on the campaign to boycott Israel. The Jewish Chronicle also notes the response of the Jewish community to the boycott threats, and reports on the visit of a Hamas official to Britain. The Guardian, the Times and the Daily Telegraph report on a Gay Pride march in Jerusalem yesterday, and the opposition to it from ultra-Orthodox communities. In related news, the Scotsman notes the discovery of a man carrying an explosive device in an anti-gay protest in Jerusalem. Reuters notes a declaration of victory by the government of Lebanon in its battle with Sunni Islamist militants. The Daily Mail has a piece which seeks to understand the motivation of suicide bombers. In the Israeli media today, Haaretz focuses on Monday's planned summit meeting between Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and PA Chairman Abbas. The paper also notes that aides to Chairman Abbas said that the Palestinian delegation might ask PM Olmert to release Fatah leader Marwan Barghouti, who is currently serving prison sentence in Israel. The paper also notes a Syrian claim that the US is blocking Israeli-Syrian peace talks, and reports that a number of Fatah members allowed by Israel to make their way to Egypt following the Hamas takeover, decided to return to the Gaza Strip. The Jerusalem Post notes the continued incareration of Alan Johnston, and has an article on the clan holding him. The paper also reports on the response of Jews in the UK to the boycott campaign, and the upgrading of cooperation between the Israeli and the US air forces. Ynetnews has an article on the likely transferring by Israel of tax monies to the PA, and runs additional pieces on a call by opposition leader Benjamin Netanyahu for increased Jordanian involvement in the West Bank.

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