The online editions of the Guardian, Financial Times, Independent, Times and Telegraph all report on yesterday’s Friends of Syria conference in Rome at which US Secretary of State John Kerry pledged greater support to Syria’s opposition. This includes an allocation of around £40million to Syria’s political opposition and importantly the direct supply of food and medical supplies to elements of the armed opposition. This represents the first time that the United States has given any form of support directly to armed groups in Syria. However, it falls well short of the Syrian opposition request for military support from the international community.  The Times claims that the United States and several of its European allies are overseeing training bases in Jordan for Syrian rebels, in order to bolster moderate opposition groups opposing President Assad. According to the report, the training includes help securing chemical weapons facilities, reflecting Western concerns that Syria’s chemical stockpile could fall into the hands of Islamist extremists.

Meanwhile, the Guardian and the online editions of the BBC and Reuters UK report that Israel’s Health Ministry has opened an investigation into claims that over the last twenty years Ethiopian-Israeli women were given a contraceptive injection without their consent before and after their immigration to Israel.

This morning’s Metro notes comments made yesterday by Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan at a UN meeting in Vienna, at which he described Zionism as a “crime against humanity.” The report says that a statement from Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu “strongly condemns” Erdogan’s remark.

The online editions of the Telegraph and Independent report that Gaza fishermen recently caught an unusually large haul of ‘Devil Ray’ fish. According to the Telegraph, the catch was made possible due to the relaxation of shipping restrictions by Israel off the Gaza coast, following the ceasefire that ended Operation Pillar of Defence in November.

The headlines in Israel are focused on the ongoing coalition negotiations, which took another twist yesterday. Following talks with Yesh Atid, the head of the Likud-Beitenu negotiating team said that Yair Lapid’s party refuses to enter a government alongside ultra-Orthodox parties. Yediot Ahronot’s headline is “Lapid: I won’t sit with ultra-Orthodox,” while Israel Hayom states “Negotiations reach critical stage,” with Prime Minister Netanyahu almost certain to request an extended period of time from President Peres to form a coalition. While most titles suggest that Netanyahu’s Likud-Beitenu faction is attempting to unravel the pact between Jewish Home and Yesh Atid, whereby neither will enter a coalition without the other, Maariv suggests that Netanyahu could re-negotiate the agreement already reached with Tzipi Livni’s Hatnuah Party in order to appease both Jewish Home and Yesh Atid who have both voiced objections to the Hatnuah coalition deal. Israel Radio News says that talks between Likud-Beitenu and Jewish Home will continue today.

Meanwhile, Yediot Ahronot suggests that American officials have said that if a new government is not in place by 16 March, then President Obama’s visit to Israel and the region may be cancelled. Maariv says that Netanyahu has given instructions to suspend construction in the West Bank and Jerusalem until after Obama’s visit, in order to avoid any unnecessary embarrassment during the trip.

Meanwhile, Sof Hashavua highlights Turkish Prime Minister Erdogan’s comments in Vienna regarding Zionism, which Israel Radio News says Netanyahu described as “despicable” and “deceitful,” and from an era which he had thought was long gone.