The online editions of the Guardian, Financial Times and Independent cover the deliberations over Syria at the G8 summit in Northern Ireland. All report on the bland communiqué that was agreed, expressed hope for peace talks soon. However, all articles highlight the fundamental disagreements that remain between Russia and the West over the future role of Syria’s President Assad and the prospect of arming some opposition groups. Meanwhile, the Independent reports heavy fighting in the Lebanese city of Sidon between Sunni forces and Hezbollah in another example of overspill from the fighting in Syria.

There is plenty of commentary on Syria, with an op-ed by Robert Fox in the Evening Standard calling potential UK intervention in Syria a “quagmire,” although Marko Attila Hoare in the Guardian argues that failure to arm the opposition Free Syrian Army will strengthen al-Qaeda. Mary Riddell in the Independent discusses the dilemma facing Ed Miliband over the issue of arming Syria’s opposition, while Robert Boyes in the Times analyses exactly what such action might entail. In the Financial Times, Andrei Nekrasov says that Russia’s opposition to Western policy over Syria is in part motivated by domestic political concerns. An editorial in the Guardian laments the failure of the G8 to make real progress on Syria.

The online editions of the Times and Telegraph cover comments made yesterday by Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, who claimed that in light of Hassan Rowhani’s election, Iran is prepared to stop developing twenty per-cent enriched uranium and that international sanctions on Iran should be eased.

The Times, Independent and its’ sister publication Independent i report on a major conference taking place in Jerusalem to mark the ninetieth birthday of Israel’s President Shimon Peres, which is being attended by numerous global figures including Tony Blair and Bill Clinton. The Guardian online covers comments made by another high-profile guest Barbra Streisand who criticised ultra-Orthodox coercion against women in Israel. The Telegraph online notes comments made by the actress Sharon Stone, also attending the Jerusalem conference, who urged action to make Middle East peace a reality.

The Independent and Independent i both cover a story published yesterday in Haaretz, which reported that a senior IDF commander refused to let a soldier recite poetry which he had written on a radio show, on the grounds that it would “ruin the image of the combat soldier.”

In the Israeli media, the most prominent story is a large so-called ‘Price Tag’ attack that took place yesterday in the village of Abu Ghosh, situated just west of Jerusalem. Yesterday’s incident is the top story in Maariv, Haaretz and Israel Hayom which all focus on police efforts to eradicate these attacks. In Maariv, Ben-Dror Yemini urges the government to cut sources of funding for individuals or institutions that incite this type of racist behaviour. All reports, including Israel Radio news cover the unanimous condemnation from leaders across the political spectrum, including Likud MK Reuven Rivlin who called the attack an act of terrorism.

Yediot Ahronot leads with the ninetieth birthday celebrations for President Shimon Peres. It is also a major story in Maariv, Haaretz, Makor Rishon and Israel Hayom that describes Peres as “glowing with happiness.” Peres spoke last night and emphasised that “the Israel of tomorrow and the Palestine of tomorrow can give light and hope to our children.” In Yediot Ahronot, Eitan Haber says that Peres presents the Israel that Israelis dream of, while in the same publication Nahum Barnea criticises the excess of the celebrations.

Meanwhile, Makor Rishon notes that European Union foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton is set to arrive in Israel today.