The online editions of the Guardian, Independent, Financial Times, Telegraph and the Times all cover serious fighting which has taken place in the Lebanese city of Sidon, primarily between supporters of a local Sunni cleric, Ahmad al-Assir and Hezbollah.  Al-Assir vehemently opposes Hezbollah, particularly following the Shi’ite organisation’s recent intervention in Syria in support of President Assad. However, for the first time yesterday, the Lebanese army joined the fight alongside Hezbollah in Sidon leaving sixteen Lebanese soldiers dead.

The Evening Standard and the online editions of the Independent and the Guardian all report on rocket fire aimed at southern Israel from the Gaza Strip and subsequent Israeli air force strikes against military targets in Gaza, all of which took place overnight on Sunday. The Independent and Independent i both cover comments made yesterday by Yisrael Beitenu leader Avigdor Leiberman who suggested such incidents show that Israel should consider re-conquering the Gaza Strip.

Meanwhile, the Guardian reports on the recent resignation of Palestinian Authority (PA) Prime Minister Rami Hamdallah after less than one month in office. The Independent and its’ sister publication Independent i both include an interview with Suha Arafat, wife of former-PA President Yasser Arafat, who discusses the exhumation of her husband’s body and the significance of finding out more about the causes of his death. The Guardian says that Israel’s Public Security Minister Yitzhak Aharonovich has banned a Palestinian children’s puppet festival in East Jerusalem organised by the PA, which under the Oslo Accords must request prior permission from Israel to host an event in East Jerusalem. The article includes criticism of Aharonovich’s decision by Jerusalem’s Deputy Mayor.

The Financial Times online includes a profile and analysis of the challenges facing the incoming Governor of the Bank of Israel, Jacob Frenkel.

In this morning’s Israeli media, Maariv, Makor Rishon and Israel Hayom lead with speculation over possible progress in US Secretary of State John Kerry’s efforts to kick start talks between Israeli and Palestinian leaders. Ahead of Kerry’s latest visit to the region later this week, Maariv claims that Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is prepared to release Palestinian prisoners and freeze construction in major West Bank settlement blocks in order to secure agreement from PA President Mahmoud Abbas to return to talks. In Yediot Ahronot, Nahum Barnea says that Netanyahu has come under significant pressure to make so-called goodwill gestures from Kerry, European Union foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton and Quartet envoy Tony Blair. Israel Hayom suggests that Israeli leaders are concerned that Abbas will agree to renew talks and then derail them at the first opportunity.

Haaretz and Israel Radio news both highlight a stormy session last night in the Knesset which narrowly approved the first reading of a bill to regulate Bedouin settlement in the Negev region. Following a period of investigation and consultation, the government has recommended a plan to re-settle those living in isolated Bedouin encampments to recognised communities where amenities can be more easily provided.  The plan involves giving legal deeds to half of the Bedouin land claims and one hundred per cent compensation for the remainder. However, the plan is opposed by those who object to the forcible removal of Bedouins from what they claim as their land.