Speculation over the events leading up to the death of ‘Prisoner X’ continues to feature in this morning’s dailies. The story of the prisoner, assumed to be Australian-born Ben Zygier, who died in high-security Israeli detention in 2010, became public last week. The Independent and Independent i both report Australian claims that Zygier was imprisoned by Israeli authorities because he had leaked details of a sensitive Mossad operation in Italy to Australian intelligence. Writing in the Telegraph, Richard Spencer suggests a more complex theory involving Gulf states.

The Guardian and the Telegraph cover criticism of an Israeli soldier who uploaded a picture to Instagram, which appeared to depict an Arab boy in a marksman’s crosshairs. The picture has since been removed and both articles quote an Israeli army response describing it as “a severe incident which doesn’t accord with the IDF’s spirits and values.”

Meanwhile, the online edition of the Guardian reports that US President Obama will be awarded the Israeli presidential medal of distinction during his visit to Israel next month, in honour of his “unique and significant contribution to strengthening the State of Israel and the security of its citizens.” The online edition of the Times says that European Union (EU) countries are split on what measures to take against Hezbollah following the Bulgarian investigation, which revealed that the group was behind a terror attack in the Black Sea resort of Burgas last summer. Apparently, France and Italy are opposed to placing Hezbollah on a terror blacklist while others disagree on introducing bans or sanctions.

According to the Guardian and the online editions of the Telegraph and Independent, the UK government has persuaded the EU to amend its arms embargo of Syria, which would now allow the UK to supply Syrian opposition forces with non-lethal equipment and relevant training. The reports also include calls by former United Nations prosecutor Carla del Ponte for Syrian leaders to be tried in the International Criminal Court.  The Independent includes a report on Egypt’s deliberate flooding of smuggling tunnels which stretch under its border into the Gaza Strip. The article suggests that such action by Egypt will put thousands of Palestinians in Gaza out of work. Meanwhile, the Times online reports that Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has made a veiled threat to veto this summer’s presidential election, in his capacity as interior minister, should his preferred candidate be barred from running by the country’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei.

In the Israeli media, Yediot Ahronot, Maariv, Israel Hayom, Haaretz and Makor Rishon all give prominence to an investigation which has been ordered by the Attorney General into allegations that Education Minister Gideon Saar exploited his position and had a sexual relationship with a subordinate. However, the woman in question has publicly denied that she wrote a letter of complaint, the trigger for the investigation and has denied the truth of its contents. All newspapers speculate whether the allegations are merely a smear by Saar’s political rivals, with Yediot Ahronot leading with the headline, “Harassment or libel?” while Maariv asks “Sexual exploitation or an attempt to destroy his political career?” Saar is considered one of Likud’s most prominent figures.

Meanwhile, Maariv claims that Ben Zygier, assumed to be ‘Prisoner X’ was not deemed suicidal and so took advantage of the guarding arrangements to hang himself with his bed sheets from the bars of the bathroom. In the same publication, Nadav Eyal opines that the Australian intelligence service has many questions to answer over the case.

Significant coverage is also given to the ongoing coalition manoeuvres, with Yediot Ahronot reporting that according to Yesh Atid leader Yair Lapid and his Jewish Home counterpart Naftali Bennett, talks with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s Likud-Beitenu faction are at a standstill. However, Maariv suggests that Tzipi Livni is on the verge of agreeing a deal for her Hatnuah party to join the coalition, under which she would become Justice Minister and play a leading role in negotiations with the Palestinians.