The death of a Palestinian prisoner in Israeli custody, which has exacerbated high tensions in the West Bank is covered by the Guardian, Financial Times, Independent, Times and Independent i. Arafat Jaradat died in Megiddo prison on Saturday having been arrested five days earlier in connection with a stone-throwing incident in the West Bank. An Israeli autopsy attended by a Palestinian official has resulted in Israeli officials maintaining that Jaradat died of a heart attack while Palestinian Authority leaders claim he was tortured to death. Jaradat’s death led to a spike in violence in the West Bank yesterday, which had already experienced large-scale demonstrations last week in solidarity with four hunger-striking Palestinian prisoners.

Meanwhile, the Times, Financial Times, Telegraph and Guardian all preview incoming US Secretary of State John Kerry’s inaugural foreign trip in office, which begins today. He will visit nine countries in Europe and the Middle East, but not Israel or the Palestinian territories. However, all reports indicate that the situation in Syria will be high up on his agenda during the visit while the Telegraph asks what Kerry’s appointment means for the prospects of Middle East peace. In Syria itself, the Independent i reports that opposition forces have captured the site of a suspected former nuclear plant. The Independent includes an in-depth analysis of the death of Hasan Shateri, a senior Iranian Revolutionary Guards commander who was killed in Syria last week.

The online edition of the Guardian reports that two leading Egyptian opposition figures have called for a boycott of the country’s upcoming parliamentary elections, which were announced last week by Egypt’s President Mohammed Morsi, calling it a sham process. Morsi’s rule has so far been characterised by tension between his Muslim Brotherhood faction and opponents who claim Morsi is attempting to grab power rather than further the country’s transformation to democracy.

The Financial Times online reports an announcement by Iran’s Atomic Energy Organisation over the weekend, that Iran has discovered new uranium reserves and intends to build sixteen new nuclear reactors across the country. The announcement came just days before Iranian officials are scheduled to meet in Kazakhstan with representatives of the international community, who are tasked with leading efforts to resolve concerns over Tehran’s nuclear programme through a diplomatic solution.

The violence in the West Bank is the focus of headlines in the Israeli media this morning. Yediot Ahronot leads with the simple headline of “The Goal: Quiet,” while Maariv and Israel Hayom report suggestions that the Palestinian Authority (PA) is encouraging or at least permitting the violence to take place. Haaretz claims that Israel and the PA fear losing control of the West Bank if the violence continues to escalate. Writing in Yediot Ahronot, Alex Fishman suggests that order can be restored if the Israeli army deploy in numbers while at the same time Israel agrees to release a number of Palestinian prisoners as a confidence building measure.

Meanwhile, Maariv reports that Likud-Beitenu is close to agreeing a framework with Yesh Atid and Jewish Home for drafting ultra-Orthodox religious seminary students. The issue has been a large stumbling block to agreeing a coalition deal between the parties until now. Last night, Likud released a statement saying that they have made an offer for Yesh Atid to join the government. Prime Minister Netanyahu has until the end of the week to finalise a coalition or else will need to request a two-week extension from President Peres in order to do so. Makor Rishon reports that Amram Mitzna, who is number two on the Hatnuah list of Knesset members, has said that there is a “crisis of confidence” between him and party leader Tzipi Livni, over the possibility that she may overlook him and appoint the party’s number three Amir Peretz as Hatnuah’s second minister in a new government.