Several dailies this morning provide a preview to US President Barack Obama’s visit to Israel and the region, which begins on Wednesday. The Financial Times offers a political analysis arguing that in his second term in office, US President Obama will be forced to make tough decisions on many of the region’s most contentious issues including the Israel-Palestinian peace process and Iran’s nuclear development. Meanwhile, the Guardian includes a vox pop of several everyday Israelis and Palestinians, asking their opinions on Obama’s visit, with few expressing optimism that it will bring positive change. The Sunday Telegraph included an in-depth feature on the low expectations of the Palestinian public ahead of the Obama visit. Meanwhile, the Guardian’s editorial argues that despite such modest expectations, Obama should tell Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that the status quo regarding relations with the Palestinians is unsustainable.

The Telegraph covers the final composition of Israel’s new government, which will be sworn in today, following weeks of protracted coalition talks. The article highlights a legislative push to define Israel as the nation state of the Jewish people, noting that it will prove controversial among the country’s Arab minority. The piece also notes the appointment of Moshe Ya’alon, a former IDF Chief of Staff, as Israel’s new Defence Minister.

Meanwhile, Julian Borger reports in the Guardian that Israel will ask President Obama for US participation or support of air strikes against Syria, if there is evidence that Syrian missiles are being transported to Hezbollah in neighbouring Lebanon. The Times says that Asma Assad, wife of the Syrian President, made a rare public appearance, quashing rumours that she had fled the country. The same article says that the Syrian Army’s logistics chief, Gen. Khalouf has defected and denounced the Assad regime. The Financial Times reports on the failure of the UK and French governments at a meeting in Brussels to persuade the European Union to lift the arms embargo on Syria, which would have paved the way towards arming Syrian opposition forces seeking Assad’s downfall.

The Israeli media this morning is dominated by the final ministerial line-up of the country’s new government, which was completed late last night. The new administration will be sworn in later today in the Knesset. Yediot Ahronot simply announces “The 33^rd government” on its front page, while Maariv’s headline warns that the “Opposition girds for battle” and Haaretz argues that the new government is “More hawkish and less experienced” than the previous government. Israel Radio News reports that Prime Minister Netanyahu made his final ministerial appointments last night, with Silvan Shalom the new Minister for Energy and Water with a seat on the ministerial team directing peace talks with the Palestinians. He is joined on that forum by Yuval Steinitz, who becomes Minister for International Relations.

There is a significant amount of commentary on the new government. Writing in Yediot Ahronot, Sima Kadmon warns that Netanyahu will face “a daily test, facing a militant opposition that will rally every day in the Knesset,” while Shimon Shiffer says in the same publication that Netanyahu will find it difficult to advance a two-state solution given some of the personalities in his government. However, Maariv’s Ben-Dror Yemini strikes a positive tone, saying “Something good has happened.  This change should be viewed without superfluous cynicism.  Maybe, maybe, this time it won’‎t just be a hope.  Maybe this time there will be change, too.”

Meanwhile, Israel Radio News notes that at the start of today’s Knesset session, Likud-Beitenu’s Yuli Edelstein is expected to be elected as the new Knesset speaker.