Several publications report this morning that the United States is giving serious consideration to arming moderate opposition forces in Syria and possibly establishing a no-fly zone over parts of the country. The Telegraph, Independent, Metro and Independent i all say that US Secretary of State John Kerry has postponed a trip to Israel and the Palestinian territories until next week in order to take part in discussions over Syria. Apparently, the Obama administration is alarmed at the recent military gains made by the Assad regime and its’ Hezbollah ally. However, an editorial in the Daily Mail argues strongly against further American involvement in Syria. 

In Syria itself, the Independent, Evening Standard and the online edition of the Financial Times all say that Assad’s forces and Hezbollah, fresh from their victory over opposition forces at Qusair last week, are preparing for an assault on Aleppo. The Evening Standard reports that one hundred people were killed by troops loyal to Assad as they attempted to recently flee Qusair. Meanwhile, the online editions of the Times, Telegraph and Independent say that a fifteen-year-old boy in Aleppo was murdered in front of his parents by a Jihadist opposition group linked to al-Qaeda after he was accused of blasphemy. 

The Telegraph online covers comments made yesterday by Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in front of the Knesset’s Foreign Affairs and Defence Committee. Netanyahu said that the Palestinian demand for Israel to meet pre-conditions such as a comprehensive settlement freeze as a proviso to renewing peace talks was a significant obstacle to restarting negotiations. Netanyahu has repeatedly called for unconditional direct talks with Palestinian Authority (PA) President Mahmoud Abbas to begin immediately.

The Times and Independent i cover the build-up to the Iranian presidential election which will be held on Friday. Both report that the clerical regime in Tehran is looking to sideline one of the candidates Hassan Rowhani, who is considered to be too critical of the government and has also becoming closely identified with the opposition Green Movement which was violently repressed following the 2009 election.

Meanwhile, the Times reports that British National Party (BNP) leader Nick Griffin is currently visiting the Bekaa Valley, a Hezbollah stronghold in Lebanon. A BNP spokesman refused to explain the reason behind Griffin’s unlikely visit.

In the Israeli media this morning, the front page headlines of Yediot Ahronot and Maariv focus on the ongoing case of the double murder in a gay youth club in Tel Aviv four years ago. Four suspects were arrested last week, but a gag order prevented the media from reporting the details. Tel Aviv police yesterday gave a press conference revealing more about the case, only for Judge Ido Druyan to almost immediately reinstate the gag order and forbid media publication of comments made at the event. 

Meanwhile, Yediot Ahronot also reports that Justice Minister Tzipi Livni, who is also leading Israel’s efforts to negotiate with the PA criticised the claim made over the weekend by Deputy Defence Minister and Likud MK Danny Danon that the government would not approve a two-state solution. Livni said that Prime Minister Netanyahu will have to choose between “Danonism” and those who “realise that a peace agreement is an Israeli interest.” Yediot Ahronot’s Shimon Shiffer says that Livni has now arrived at a crossroads over her place in the coalition.

Both Haaretz and Makor Rishon focus on developments in Syria. Haaretz highlights Netanyahu’s comments to the Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defence Committee at which he said Syria is volatile and that Israel will refrain from taking sides in the conflict. Meanwhile, Makor Rishon reports that Yisrael Beitenu leader Avigdor Lieberman warned Syria’s President Assad that he is liable to lose power entirely if he attempts to open a military front against Israel.