This morning’s UK dailies widely report yesterday’s decision in the Israeli cabinet to approve the release of up to 104 Palestinian prisoners convicted of serious security offenses, in order to pave the way for the first direct, sustained talks between Israeli and Palestinian leaders since 2010. The Financial Times reports that Israel’s Justice Minister Tzipi Livni, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s envoy Yitzchak Molcho and senior Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat are expected to meet in Washington as early as today. The Guardian, Independent i, Times, Metro, Independent, Telegraph and the Sun all cover yesterday’s Israeli cabinet vote, which approved the four-stage release of the prisoners, who were all convicted over twenty years ago of involvement in deadly attacks on Israelis.

The other major Middle East related story this morning is the ongoing violence and tension in Egypt. The Guardian and the Independent focus on the determination of supporters of Mohammed Morsi to continue their protests in Cairo, despite the killing of several dozen protestors over the weekend following clashes with security forces. Writing in the Independent, Robert Fisk says that the violence was nothing less than a military massacre. The Telegraph includes an interview with Egypt’s interim Prime Minister Hazem Beblawi, who said that there is “no going back” to the rule of the Muslim Brotherhood. Meanwhile, in the Times, Bronwen Maddox says that the West’s response to the turmoil in Egypt has been “tangled and tentative” and that the United States must threaten to withdraw aid to Egypt in the hope of bringing about some form of reconciliation.

The Israeli media this morning is dominated by yesterday’s cabinet decision agreeing to release up to 104 Palestinian prisoners. Haaretz and Maariv both focus on the beginning of talks between Israeli and Palestinian leaders in Washington later today as a result of yesterday’s vote. Israel Hayom summarises the mood following the decision to release the prisoners saying, “Headed towards negotiations, with heavy hearts.” Makor Rishon emphasises that the cabinet decision was taken yesterday “despite protests of bereaved families.” Meanwhile, the headline in Yediot Ahronot simply states “Murderers will be released” and includes a feature on the thoughts and feelings of families who lost loved ones in terror attacks.

There is widespread commentary on the decision. Writing in Yediot Ahronot, Shimon Shiffer says that the agreement violates Netanyahu’s own axiom that “if they give they’ll receive, if they don’t give they won’t receive,” and instead makes clear that he “gives and gives.” In the same publication, Nahum Barnea suggests that the real reason behind Netanyahu’s support for the release “is the deterioration in Israel’s standing around the world, in a period when we need the West more than ever, because of Iran, because of Syria, because of Egypt.” Shalom Yerushalmi in Maariv says that “the government has chosen the worst option” and decided to release murderers rather than institute a settlement freeze which would have raised significant tensions within the cabinet. However, Amnon Lord in the same publication praises the decision, saying that it is clear that “Netanyahu is not marching forward with his eyes shut.”

In other news, Haaretz reports that the Knesset Constitution, Law and Justice Committee has approved raising the electoral threshold from two per cent to four per cent. The bill is expected to go to a Knesset vote later this week.