US imposes sanctions on Iran?s military organisations

In the UK and international media today, the main Middle East related news is the decision by the US to impose sanctions on Iran's military organisations. Sanctions have been imposed on around 20 Iranian organisations controlled or owned by the Revoluionary Guards. The Guardian carries its third piece looking at life inside Gaza along with a piece by journalist Clancy Chassay on his dinner with two senior Hamas leaders. The paper also reports that the Palestine Liberation Organisation has begun legal action against two French companies involved in the Jerusalem light-railway project which they say will provide infrastructure to settlements in the West Bank. The Daily Telegraph meanwhile, reports that Hamas terrorists are using Google Earth software to help pinpoint areas inside Israel for rocket strikes. In related news, the Times and BBC Online note that Defence Minister Ehud Barak approved the decision to limit electricity and fuel to Gaza in response to the ongoing Qassam and mortar rocket attacks. The Independent and Scotsman note that a Palestinian cancer patient was refused entry into Israel as part of the campaign of sanctions imposed on the Hamas-led Gaza population. BBC Online reports on satellite images showing that Syria has tried to cover up the site of an Israeli air strike last month. Meanwhile, the Times and the Glasgow Herald report on Scottish journalist Alan Johnston's account of 114 days as a hostage in Gaza.

In the Israeli press, all papers report that Israel yesterday denied claims by PA Chairman Mahmoud Abbas that it had engaged in talks with Hamas. All the papers also report that the Palestinian leadership are seeking international intervention over the decision by Israel to cut electricity and fuel supplies to Gaza in response to Qassam rocket attacks. Meanwhile, several papers note that the IDF cancelled a large-scale training operation in the Golan Heights over fears of raising tensions along the Israel-Syria border. Related to this, are reports that satellite images show that Syria has removed a building from a suspected nuclear site. The Jerusalem Post reports that Israel has welcomed a new set of US sanctions imposed on Iran. Haaretz and Maariv note that PM Ehud Olmert and PA Chairman Mahmoud Abbas will meet today in Jerusalem to discuss the differences between the two sides over a framework for the US-sponsored Annapolis Summit next month. Finally the papers note that Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams, will visit Israel to meet with the chief rabbis next week.

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