The decision taken yesterday by European Union (EU) foreign ministers to proscribe the military wing of Hezbollah, following a UK-led initiative, is covered by the Guardian, Financial Times, Independent, Telegraph, Evening Standard, Independent i and the Times. However, all reports note that the EU also made clear that links would be maintained with Hezbollah’s political faction, which sits in the Lebanese parliament. Most articles note that the details of how the EU ban will be implemented will be clarified during the coming weeks. David Blair in the Telegraph suggests that the “artificial” distinction between Hezbollah’s military and political personnel will blunt the impact of the ban. In the same publication, Israel’s Ambassador to the UK, Daniel Taub praises the EU decision as a mark of leadership, but urges the proscription of Hezbollah in its entirety.

The Telegraph says that there is disquiet in the Israeli cabinet over Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s pledge to hold a national referendum on any future peace deal with the Palestinians. The report says that Justice Minister Tzipi Livni is among the opponents of a plebiscite, but that Jewish Home leader Naftali Bennett is conditioning his support for the state budget on such a vote. The Guardian online reports that Palestinian Authority (PA) President Mahmoud Abbas has also pledged a referendum on a future peace agreement, while the Times and Independent i highlight Abbas’ comments from the same interview, warning that “all options” will be open if peace talks fail. The Telegraph online says that PA leaders have indicated that obstacles remain to the resumption of talks.

The Telegraph online covers comments made by Syria’s Deputy Prime Minister claiming that Russia will push ahead with the agreed delivery of S-300 anti-aircraft systems, which could threaten Israel’s regional air superiority. The same publication and the Guardian also reports claims that President Assad’s forces are ‘cleansing’ Sunni areas in the Homs province. The Guardian online says that Syrian opposition forces have captured a strategic village near Aleppo. Meanwhile, the Guardian online also reports that Gen. Martin Dempsey, chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff told US senators yesterday that any military intervention in Syria is likely to bring about “unintended consequences.”

In the Israeli media, the EU decision on Hezbollah is widely reported and discussed. It is the headline story in Maariv, while Israel Hayom declares, “Europe wakes up.” Yediot Ahronot refers to the EU ban on Hezbollah’s military wing as a “semi-boycott” as it does not include Hezbollah’s political faction. The EU’s decision to draw a distinction between the two is criticised by Dr Mordechai Kedar in Maariv, although in the same publication Eli Bardenstein argues that Israeli officials are pleased with the decision as it represents vast progress.

Conflicting opinion within the Israeli government over the prospect of a national referendum on a future peace deal with the Palestinians is also covered widely. Israel Hayom says that the cabinet will be asked to discuss the idea of a referendum and other aspects to the renewal of peace talks. Meanwhile, Yediot Ahronot says that Yesh Atid leader Yair Lapid has pledged the support of his party for a plebiscite, giving a potential Knesset majority in favour of legislation that would pave the way for such a vote.

Israel Radio news reports this morning that the Knesset voted late last night in favour of the first reading of a bill aimed to create a more equitable military draft. The proposed legislation, drafted by a ministerial committee headed by Yesh Atid’s Yaakov Peri, was discussed for a marathon six hours and now must be further analysed in a Knesset committee prior to second and third readings.