The Guardian strikes an upbeat note this morning with an editorial suggesting that US President Obama’s upcoming visit to Israel and the region could lead to a mini-summit between Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, describing the visit as “small grounds for hope” for the peace process. The Times and the online edition of the Daily Mail report on recent incendiary incidents carried out by a small section of Beitar Jerusalem football supporters, including racist chanting and apparent arson at the club’s training ground in opposition to the recent signing of two Muslim players from Chechnya. Both articles quote Prime Minister Netanyahu’s condemnation of these fans’ “shameful” behaviour. Meanwhile, the Financial Times notes that the trial of Israel’s former-foreign minister Avigdor Lieberman is set to begin this week. He is accused of fraud and breach of trust.

The online edition of the Financial Times reports that Republican senator Lindsey Graham may bring a procedural objection in order to delay the Senate’s approval of Chuck Hagel as US Defence Secretary. Writing in the same publication, Geoff Dyer says that outgoing Defence Secretary Leon Panetta has placed a spotlight on President Obama’s Syria policy, following Panetta’s admission that the president opposed a proposal by senior members of his national security team to arm the Syrian opposition.

The online editions of the Guardian and Independent both report that Iranian president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said that he would personally participate in direct nuclear talks with the United States if sanctions on Tehran were first eased. Ahmadinejad indicated that international sanctions have led to the “uneasy situation of a big portion of the country.” Meanwhile, the Telegraph online reports fresh overtures made by Moaz al-Khatib, the leader of the internationally recognised opposition body, the Syrian National Coalition, towards the regime of President Assad. Al-Khatib apparently offered to meet Assad officials in opposition-held territory in northern Syria in order to help bring an end to the country’s bloody conflict.

In the Israeli media, Yediot Ahronot leads with speculation over Obama’s upcoming visit to Israel, claiming that Obama will warn Prime Minister Netanyahu not to attack Iran in order to allow him to attempt brokering a diplomatic agreement with Tehran over its nuclear programme. The report also speculates that Obama will warn that Israel risks international sanctions if there is no progress in peace talks with the Palestinians. However, Makor Rishon reports that Netanyahu will not introduce a settlement freeze in the West Bank as a consequence of Obama’s visit.

Meanwhile, Yediot Ahronot, Israel Hayom and Makor Rishon all report that Netanyahu will meet with Jewish Home leader Naftali Bennett in the framework of coalition talks today. It will reportedly be their first face to face meeting for five years since Bennett left his position as Netanyahu’s chief of staff. Haaretz reports that Likud-Beitenu will today present Yesh Atid with a new plan to extend the military draft, which they hope can form the basis of consensus on the issue for all potential coalition partners. However, Maariv speculates that Yesh Atid leader Yair Lapid and Bennett will both reject the proposal.

Maariv, Haaretz, Israel Hayom and Israel Radio News report that yesterday evening’s football match between Beitar Jerusalem and Bnei Sakhnin passed without major incident. The game was played amid high tension after small sections of Beitar supporters recently chanted racist slogans and apparently attacked the club’s training ground following Beitar’s signing of two Muslim players from Chechnya.