The Times, Telegraph, Financial Times and the online edition of the Guardian all report on the conclusion of nuclear talks between the P5+1 international powers and Iran in Kazakhstan. Two days of discussions ended without a breakthrough, but the two sides agreed to technical talks on 18 March followed by another round of political talks on 5 April. These discussions will focus on the possibility of implementing a P5+1 proposal that softened its demands over the two days of talks. It will now focus on reducing activity at Iran’s Fordow plant and ceasing enrichment of twenty per cent uranium, but demands to ship such existing material out of Iran have reportedly been dropped.

The Telegraph, Independent i and the online edition of the Financial Times cover a leaked report which strongly condemns Israeli West Bank settlements, signed by 27 European Union (EU) heads of mission in Ramallah and East Jerusalem, including the UK’s consul-general Sir Vincent Fean. However, the report is non-binding and would need the support of EU ambassadors and foreign ministers to become policy. The Telegraph quotes an Israeli government official who notes that because consul-generals in East Jerusalem aren’t allowed to speak to the Israeli government, their reports tend to be one-sided. Meanwhile, the Financial Times includes a feature on the difficulties facing Gaza exporters given their reliance on Israel to reach their target markets.

The Times includes a report which extensively quotes Mike Herzog, a retired Israeli army official and BICOM senior visiting fellow, warning that a vast quantity of conventional weapons in Syria could fall into the hands of dangerous groups, destabilising the region. The Guardian online reports that a laptop was stolen during a theft at the home of the head of Israel’s Atomic Energy Commission, suggesting that the burglary may have been carried out for espionage purposes. The Independent i note that United Nations special rapporteur Richard Falk has called for an international enquiry into the death of Palestinian prisoner Arafat Jaradat who died in Israeli detention last weekend.

Meanwhile, the online editions of the Times, Telegraph and Financial Times report that US Secretary of State John Kerry indicated yesterday that the United States will give more aid and assistance, but not military support to opposition groups in Syria.

The headlines in the Israeli media focus on ongoing coalition talks, which appear to indicate that Likud-Beitenu is working towards concluding agreements with Jewish Home and Yesh Atid at the expense of the ultra-Orthodox parties Shas and United Torah Judaism. Both Yediot Ahronot and Haaretz say that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has given up on the idea of including the ultra-Orthodox parties in the next government, while Maariv suggests that a deal will be struck with Jewish Home and Yesh Atid next week. Israel Hayom and Makor Rishon lead with reports that Netanyahu will not be able to form a government by Saturday and will therefore be required to request an extension from President Peres. Israel Radio News says that talks between Likud-Beitenu and Yesh Atid will continue today. Writing in Yediot Ahronot, Sima Kadmon comments on the unexpected nature of the coalition negotiations, which have been dominated by the unlikely Jewish Home – Yesh Atid alliance, saying “something unlike anything we have ever seen before has happened here.”

In other news, Israel Radio News reports Prime Minister Netanyahu’s call on the international community to intensify sanctions against Iran, following the end of nuclear talks between Tehran and international powers in Kazakhstan. An Israeli official is quoted saying that Iran is not interested in diplomacy and is talking in order to buy time to continue its nuclear development. Meanwhile, both Channel Ten and Maariv report that US officials are concerned President Obama may face large demonstrations during his visit to Israel next month, calling for the release of Jonathan Pollard, an American convicted of spying for Israel who has been in prison since 1987.