UK dailies today focus mainly on analysis of the post-conflict political landscape in the Middle East, on the build up to Israeli elections in January, and the PA bid for recognition as a non-member state at the UN.

The Daily Telegraph claims that Britain is coming under pressure to follow France in supporting the PA’s bid for recognition as a non-member observer state at the UN.  The Guardian reports that while Britain is set to abstain in the UN vote, the Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg will urge his Conservative coalition partners to change their vote to yes. The BBC online analyses the move from the perspective of the PA and President Abbas, who many believe is forced to pursue the UN bid in order to recover from his sidelined position in the recent conflict.

Michael Binyon in the Times argues that Hamas have emerged from the recent conflict with political and diplomatic gains. Daily Mail columnist Peter Kay reports that David Miliband has praised Tony Blair as peace envoy in the Middle East, but suggested that former U.S. President Bill Clinton should also be called on to intervene. This echoes BBC reports of calls from UK Foreign Secretary William Hague who has called for a “decisive lead” from the United States in seeking a solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

The other key story covered in today’s dailies the lead up to the January Election in Israel. The Independent i reports on the Likud primaries and claims that the votes of 123,000 members are widely seen as a referendum among Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s most loyal supporters on his handling of the Gaza situation. Tobias Buck in the Financial Times opines that Netanyahu is likely to gain from the conflict with Hamas, as his restraint will secure him the support of centrist voters who can balance the right wing as his natural allies.

In addition, Robert Fisk in the Independent writes about the Palestinians of Huj who aided the Jewish Haganah in the 1940s, whilst and the BBC and the Guardian runs stories on parents who have lost children in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Metro London reports remarks by by Sheikh Hassan Nasrallah, the leader of Hezbollah yesterday, who threatened to strike at the heart of Israel.

Over the weekend, UK media addressed the aftermath of Operation Pillar of Defence.  In the Independent on Sunday one article addressed the ‘high number of Palestinian child casualties’ during the recent conflict, Robert Fisk comments on the ‘increasing isolation affecting Israel,’ and Patrick Cockburn claimed that an Israeli strike on Iran is now unlikely.

The Observer features an op ed by Israeli peace campaigner Gershon Baskin, which concludes that Netanyahu and his government made the right decision not to launch the ground operation. Israeli ambassador to the UK, Daniel Taub writes in the Sunday Telegraph, that other terrorist groups will learn from the way Hamas has used civilians for cover, and will be watching the international response.

The Sunday Times reports that Israeli intelligence sources have spotted a cargo vessel believed to be heading for Gaza being loaded with rockets and other weapons at the Iranian port of Bandar Abbas. It also notes that the body of Yasser Arafat, the Palestinian leader, is to be exhumed for tests to find out whether he was poisoned.

The Financial Times and others reported that one Palestinian was killed by the IDF when a group surged at the border fence between Israel and Gaza on Friday, resulting in Hamas sending unarmed police to patrol the border and maintain calm.  The Independent i published a comment from the Economist on how the moderate calls for Palestinian self-determination are ultimately irresistible both because of Arab democracy across the region and the swelling of the Palestinian population.  Jonathan Freedland in the Guardian suggested that the frequency of conflicts involving Israel is increasing, blaming the leadership of both sides and their international supporters. The Guardian ran a feature about the suffering of Palestinian children in the ongoing conflict and how each succeeding generation is more militant and violent.  Robert Fisk interviewed 89 year old Israeli writer Uri Avnery, who says he is still fighting for a two-state deal.

In the Israeli media, Yediot Ahronot, Ma’ariv and others reports the successful testing of the David’s Sling (known in Hebrew as ‘magic wand’) missile defence system, which is being developed jointly by Israel’s Defence Ministry and the US Missile Defence Agency. The system is meant to intercept missiles fired at Israel from distance over 70 km, and is slated to become operational in 2014.

Also reported by all dailies is the malfunction of the computer system forcing an extension of the Likud primaries, which has so far revealed a turnout of over 50%. Nahum Barnea in Yediot Ahronot calls for committee selection of candidates rather than a costly election process.  Israeli radio reports that the same computer system will be used by Labour for its primaries in three days time.

Ma’ariv reports that Yair Lapid, chairman of Yesh Atid, has offered Tzipi Livni the number two spot on his party list, in order to discourage her from starting her own party and further fragmenting the centrist vote. According to a poll by Ma’‎ariv and Maagar Mohot Polling Institute, Livni running in the elections at the head of an independent party would leave Lapid’‎s party with just five seats, with Livni expected to receive eight.  Omri Maniv in Ma’ariv argues that Livni’s party would not provide any additional challenge to Netanyahu but would ‘finish off’ other leftist parties.

An article in Haaretz reports the Palestinian claim that a vote against Palestine in the UN will prove that only armed struggle succeeds.  Israeli Radio and Yediot Ahronot report senior government officials stating that Netanyahu would not impose harsh sanctions on the PA for continuing with the bid, but would try to secure promises from the US and Europe that would prevent the Palestinians from taking international legal action against Israel, which they may be able to do after their status is raised at the UN.

Israeli Radio reports more stray fire entering Israel from Syria.