Several publications this morning focus on the failure of European Union (EU) foreign ministers to come to an agreement over the EU arms embargo on Syrian, following lengthy talks in Brussels yesterday. The UK and France have been pressing for the embargo to be lifted, in order to pave the way for the potential supply of arms to moderate Syrian opposition groups. However, the Guardian, Independent, Telegraph, Independent i, Times and the online edition of the Financial Times report that no agreement could be reached between the twenty seven EU member states. Consequently, the existing ban is set to expire on Friday and will not be renewed, allowing individual countries to form individual policy on the issue, a development welcomed by William Hague. Writing in the Telegraph, Con Coughlin warns that the EU’s wrangling over the arms embargo threatens to make it “an international laughing stock.”

The Independent, its sister publication Independent i and the online editions of the Times and Telegraph report that US Senator John McCain, who has been a major critic of US non-intervention in Syria, visited opposition-held parts of the country yesterday, in order to meet opposition leaders. Meanwhile, the online editions of the Guardian and Telegraph cover fresh reports that President Assad’s regime has used banned weapons in fighting the Syrian opposition.

The Times includes a brief item on suspicions that a rocket from southern Lebanon was fired yesterday morning across the border into northern Israel close to the town of Metulla. Despite local reports of a rocket being fired, no landing site has been located.

The Times and the online edition of the Telegraph cover tensions within Israel’s coalition over plans to create a more equitable military draft by legislating for the compulsory enlistment of the vast majority of ultra-Orthodox seminary students. Israel’s Defence Minister Moshe Ya’alon has opposed plans by a ministerial committee to imprison those who refuse enlistment, prompting Yesh Atid leader Yair Lapid to suggest that his party may leave the government if such measures are not agreed upon.

The Daily Mail reports that Tony Blair, in his capacity as envoy of the Middle East Quartet, will oversee US Secretary of State John Kerry’s £3billion plan to revitalise the Palestinian economy fuelled by private investment and business ventures.

The Financial Times online includes a report on Israeli government plans to revitalise the Negev Desert region by building three huge military bases in the area, allowing for the relocation of military personnel, civilian staff and the development of infrastructure and services.

The Israeli media this morning focuses on the coalition tensions over proposals to draft ultra-Orthodox students into the military. Yediot Ahronot, Maariv and Makor Rishon all report that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has instructed Defence Minister Ya’alon to drop his opposition to the recommendations of the ministerial committee tasked with resolving the issue. Israel Hayom says that Netanyahu described it as a “fake” crisis, while Haaretz claims that agreement has already been reached to approve the reforms. The political sub-plot to this episode is the subject of a variety of opinions. Writing in Yediot Ahronot, Nahum Barnea says that Lapid’s threat to leave the government is a serious one, as conceding over an issue which was core to his election campaign would be a serious blow to Yesh Atid’s credibility. However, Sima Kadmon in Maariv says that Netanyahu’s intervention is evidence that he is effectively “trapped in the hands” of Lapid.

Meanwhile, Israel Radio news reports this morning that Justice Minister Tzipi Livni, who will also head any future Israeli delegation in peace talks, met last night in Amman with US Secretary of State John Kerry, to discuss promoting the renewal of peace talks. Prime Minister Netanyahu’s envoy Yitzhak Molcho also attended the meeting.