The online editions of the Guardian, Times, Telegraph, Financial Times and Independent all cover an apparent attempted assassination yesterday in Damascus of Syria’s Prime Minister Wael al-Halki, who escaped unhurt, although the bomb attack reportedly killed six others. The Guardian online and Independent online suggest that the attack may have been staged by the Assad government in order to divert attention from activities elsewhere.

The Telegraph and the online edition of the Guardian both report on increased attempts by the Hamas authorities to impose and enforce Islamic social codes in the Gaza Strip, including the arrest and beating by Hamas police of men dressed or sporting haircuts deemed ‘un-Islamic.’ Both articles speculate that the campaign may be the result of pressure from ultra-conservative Salafist Islamic groups or simply a means of asserting social control on Gaza’s citizens.

The Times online also notes that United Nations (UN) Secretary-General, Ban Ki Moon has requested that UN chemical weapons inspectors be allowed to enter Syria. The Telegraph online reports that Oxfam is warning of a deepening humanitarian crisis in Syria. Meanwhile, the Guardian online says that its’ social media accounts were attacked by the Assad-affiliated cyber hacker group Syrian Electronic Army, due to the publication’s criticism of the Assad regime. Writing in the Financial Times online, Gideon Rachman says that the unfolding evidence of chemical weapons use in Syria, which is embroiling the White House, is scuppering US President Barack Obama’s plans to focus foreign policy on Asia.

Meanwhile, Matthew Holehouse’s blog at the Telegraph online suggests that UK universities may unwittingly be training Iranian nuclear physicists.

In the Israeli media, the headline story in Maariv and Makor Rishon reports on comments made by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who said at a Knesset faction meeting yesterday that Iran has not yet crossed the ‘red line’ of nuclear development which he set out in a speech at the UN in September. Netanyahu’s comments are widely interpreted in the media as a response to comments on Iran made on Sunday by former security chiefs Meir Dagan and Amos Yadlin and former-Prime Minister Ehud Olmert.

The top story in Israel Hayom reports that Israel yesterday took delivery in Germany of a fifth Dolphin-class submarine, which is considered to be one of the most advanced submarines in the world. The story is also covered prominently by Makor Rishon.

Maariv includes a report that the IDF has strengthened its presence on the Golan Heights border with Syria. Not only has the border fence itself been reinforced but abandoned outposts and bases are now being reactivated in the wake of increasing violence and uncertainty in Syria.

Yediot Ahronot and Israel Radio news both say that Finance Minister Yair Lapid met with Labour Federation chairman Ofer Eini yesterday to discuss proposed budget cuts. The talks were apparently positive and as a result, the threat of a general strike has been averted for now.