There is speculation in this morning’s Telegraph and the Evening Standard over what exactly will be the focus of US President Obama’s forthcoming visit to Israel, which is expected to take place at the end of March. The Telegraph claims that Israeli officials believe the visit will concentrate on tackling the Iranian nuclear threat. However, the Evening Standard quotes the US Ambassador to Israel and highlights the resumption of peace talks between Israel and the Palestinians as the main purpose of Obama’s visit. Meanwhile, the Financial Times online analyses the prospects of new US Secretary of State John Kerry being able to kick-start Israel-Palestinian negotiations, suggesting that he could act as a buffer between Obama and Israel’s Prime Minister Netanyahu. The two leaders endure a notoriously frosty relationship.

The online editions of the Times and Telegraph both report on Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad’s difficult visit to the Egyptian capital Cairo. Ahmadinejad’s attendance at an Islamic conference is the first visit to Egypt by an Iranian leader since the two countries broke off diplomatic ties following the 1979 Egyptian peace treaty with Israel. However, since his arrival Ahmadinejad has faced disagreements with his Egyptian hosts over the Syrian civil war and was then attacked by a shoe-throwing Syrian protester. Meanwhile, the Independent online reports that during his visit, Ahmadinejad offered a “big credit line” to aid the struggling Egyptian economy, although it is unclear how Iran, which is constricted by international sanctions, would finance such a deal. The lead column in the Times this morning analyses Egyptian President Mohammed Morsi’s time in power so far, concluding that it remains unclear whether he will be “a force for stability, or quite the opposite,” in the region.

The online editions of the Guardian, Telegraph, Financial Times and Independent all report that heavy fighting has broken out in the Damascus suburb of Jobar, as opposition forces look to make a significant breakthrough in the heart of the capital.

The continuation of coalition-building talks is the top story in the Israeli media this morning. Netanyahu and Yesh Atid leader Yair Lapid are scheduled to meet today to further discuss their positions. Yediot Ahronot and Israel Hayom suggest that Netanyahu will try to persuade Lapid that it is possible to create a broad government which includes ultra-Orthodox parties such as Shas or United Torah Judaism. Meanwhile, Maariv reports that Jewish Home leaders suspect that Netanyahu does not actually want them in the coalition at all.

There is also speculation this morning about preparations for President Obama’s visit to Israel next month. Yediot Ahronot, Maariv, Haaretz, Israel Hayom and Makor Rishon all report comments from the White House which indicate that Obama will not use the visit as an opportunity to introduce a new Israel-Palestinian peace plan. Yediot Ahronot summarises the mood with the headline, “Lowering expectations: Obama’s visit to Israel.”

Meanwhile, several publications report on Palestinian Authority (PA) President Mahmoud Abbas’ meeting yesterday in Cairo with Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, which took place on the sidelines of an Islamic conference. Abbas reportedly thanked Ahmadinejad for his support over the upgrade of the Palestinian delegation at the United Nations in November. Israel Hayom asks of Abbas, “Friend and partner?” while Yoaz Hendel writes in Yediot Ahronot that Abbas’ gratitude towards Iran “grates on the Israeli nerves” and concludes that although the two-state solution is “a worthy vision…With Abu Mazen [Abbas] as a leader-it is not at all certain it can be achieved in this generation.”