This morning’s Financial Times, Independent, Times, Telegraph, Independent i and the online edition of the Guardian all report on the funeral of a Palestinian man, Arafat Jaradat, which took place yesterday north of Hebron in the West Bank. Jaradat died in Israeli detention over the weekend. An initial post-mortem has been disputed, with Israeli authorities concluding that Jaradat died of a heart attack while Palestinian leaders claim he was tortured. Jaradat’s death triggered a day of violent Palestinian protests on Sunday and all reports note continued tensions yesterday. Most quote Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, who yesterday accused Israel of “killing our children with live fire,” while Israeli officials called for the PA to help calm the unrest.

The Evening Standard and the online editions of the Telegraph and Independent cover the completion of a successful test flight of the Arrow 3 missile defence system, which was carried out yesterday by Israel in a joint initiative with the United States. The Arrow 3 is designed to counter long-range missiles, which all reports note includes possible ballistic threats from Iran.

Meanwhile, the Guardian, Telegraph, Times and the online edition of the Financial Times report that the internationally-recognised Syrian opposition leadership, the Syrian National Coalition (SNC) has decided to send a delegation to an eleven-nation meeting in Rome later this week, reversing a threat to boycott the conference accusing the international community of failing to provide them with adequate support. The change of heart came after incoming US Secretary of State spoke alongside Foreign Secretary William Hague in London and promised “next steps” in Rome. The online edition of the Telegraph reports that Syrian’s Foreign Minister has said that President Assad’s regime is prepared to talk to all parties, but the Independent online says that opposition forces in Syria have dismissed the offer, insisting that Assad must leave office first.

The online edition of the Financial Times reports that a bipartisan group of US senators has asked the European Union to close a financial loophole, which they believe will significantly tighten sanctions on Iran. Writing in the Telegraph, former-foreign secretary Jack Straw says that containment, rather than conflict is the correct response to Iran even if it does acquire a nuclear bomb. Meanwhile, the Times online suggests that Iranian president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad is hoping that the election of a close ally in this summer’s presidential election will help to seriously curb the political power of the religious authorities in Iran.

In this morning’s Israeli media, Yediot Ahronot, Maariv and Israel Hayom lead with reports that police are investigating allegations that new Jewish Home Knesset member Nissan Slomiansky made illegal payments to a vote contractor in order to secure election to a prominent slot on the party’s list of parliamentary candidates. Slomiansky denies any wrongdoing and says that the allegations are aimed at denying him a prominent role in the next government. Meanwhile, Maariv reports that there has been progress in coalition talks between Likud-Beitenu and Jewish Home. Although there are still differences on the issue, the two parties have reportedly agreed on some aspects of a plan to draft ultra-Orthodox religious seminary students. Jewish Home is also negotiating on behalf of Yesh Atid regarding ultra-Orthodox enlistment.

Both Maariv and Israel Hayom report that West Bank clashes surrounding yesterday’s funeral of Arafat Jaradat were less serious than those that occurred on Sunday following his death. Israel Hayom’s headline says “Clashes, but fewer” while Maariv speculates that the protests are set to abate. Reports say that yesterday’s unrest was limited mainly to stone-throwing and did not involve a particularly large number of protesters. However, Haaretz highlights a serious injury sustained by a Palestinian youth during yesterday’s protests.