Reports show growing Israel-Hezbollah tension

In the UK and international papers today, the Daily Telegraph reports that the US has called for Israel to freeze all construction in the West Bank for one year in order to facilitate overtures from Arab countries. BBC Online and Associated Press note that Human Right Watch issued a report yesterday which claims that the firing of rockets by Hamas into Israel amounts to a war crime. The news agency also notes that the Fatah convention in Bethlehem was extended due to heated discussions and disagreements between rival camps. The Economist carries a piece on the Fatah convention. The magazine, along with the Financial Times, runs an analysis predicting further unrest in Iran. Reuters reports that Iran has closed down a journalists' organisation in Tehran as part of the clampdown on anti-government criticism. Meanwhile, Sky News Online runs a piece on the Israeli society's perception of the gay community in Israel. The New Statesman carries a piece on life in Gaza. The magazine also runs an article on the Ayatollahs in Iran and how the senior clerics shape the country.

In the Israeli press, the papers carry stories on the growing tension between Israel and Hezbollah along the Lebanese-Israeli border and the influence of Iran in supporting the terror group's activities. Ynetnews reports that the Israeli Foreign Ministry is launching a campaign to push leading Western countries to put more pressure on Iran to halt its nuclear development programme. Haaretz reports that senior Palestinian officials said yesterday that the US Administration will focus on the issues of borders as the first step in Israeli-Palestinian negotiations. The Jerusalem Post notes that Japan's new Middle East Envoy, Yutuka Limura, is visiting the region and met yesterday with President Shimon Peres. Japan has been instrumental in construction and humanitarian projects investing more than $1 billion with the Palestinian Authority over the past 15 years. All papers note that the IDF Armed Corps announced that a new tank defence system is operational and will protect tanks from anti-tank missiles.

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