The online edition of the Telegraph reports that the European Union will formally summon Israel’s ambassador in order to express concerns over the Israeli government’s announcement last week of construction plans in East Jerusalem and the West Bank.

The Independent and its sister publication Independent i, along with the online editions of the Guardian and Telegraph report the impending first visit to the Gaza Strip by Hamas’ exiled leader Khaled Mashaal. He had previously been barred entry to Gaza by Israel and Egypt. Most of the articles interpret the visit as an attempt by Hamas to garner internal support following a boost in popularity for Fatah after last week’s vote at the United Nations General Assembly.

Meanwhile, the intensifying of violent protests in Egypt is covered online by the Guardian, Times and Financial Times. Supporters and opponents of President Mursi clashed yesterday in Cairo, with the latest protests having been triggered by Mursi’s attempt to push through a new controversial constitution for the country. Reports indicate that hundreds of people were injured and two people may have died in yesterday’s violence near the Presidential Palace.

Syria also continues to be a focus of media attention. The Telegraph online reports US sources which claim that President Assad’s forces have already loaded chemical weapons into bombs, while US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has warned of the danger that Assad could resort to using non-conventional weapons. Meanwhile, the online editions of the Times and Independent say that opposition forces have made significant gains and that Assad’s grip on power is increasingly tenuous. The Financial Times online reports a worsening economic situation in Syria with the local currency falling sharply in value.

The Telegraph online notes comments made yesterday by Defence Secretary Phillip Hammond, who told Parliament’s joint committee on national security strategy that an attack on Iranian nuclear facilities would have a direct impact on the UK economy.

In the Israeli media, Maariv claims that the European Union could accelerate legislation to mark West Bank products in response to construction plans in East Jerusalem and the West Bank announced by the Israeli government last week. Maariv also reports that the Civil Administration’s Supreme Council for Planning yesterday approved two sets of construction plans for the controversial E1 area, although the report notes that this is just a preliminary stage of numerous planning stages before any actual building can begin. Meanwhile, Makor Rishon reports Prime Minister Netanyahu’s reiteration that his government is committed to the two-state solution.

With the deadline for parties to submit their list of Knesset candidates set at 10pm this evening, Haaretz reports that although talks have been taking place between the Labour Party, Hatnuah and Yesh Atid on forming a joint list, they look unlikely to bear fruit. A Channel Ten poll released last night indicated that the Likud-Beitenu list and a potential unified centre-left bloc would garner a similar number of Knesset seats. The poll also indicated that Kadima will struggle to cross the electoral threshold, sparking commentaries this morning on the demise of the party in Israel Hayom and Maariv, where Mazal Mualem writes “The war of succession against Shaul Mofaz and the loss of relevancy during the social protest movement of the summer of 2011 were the beginning of the end.”