The Telegraph online reports that US President Obama yesterday phoned both Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Palestinian Authority (PA) President Mahmoud Abbas, praising them individually for their “leadership and courage” in resuming final status negotiations, which are expected to start in earnest during the coming two weeks. Obama pledged full US support for the talks, but acknowledged that “the parties have much work to do.”

The Independent and the online editions of the Guardian and Financial Times cover yesterday’s vote in the United States’ Congress which overwhelmingly approved new toughened sanctions against Iranian oil exports. The measures seek to almost entirely halt Iranian oil sales in light of Tehran’s continued refusal to cooperate with the international community over its nuclear programme. Significantly, the bipartisan bill comes just days before the inauguration of Iran’s new President Hassan Rowhani, considered by some to be a more moderate voice within the Iranian regime.

The Times reports that an ultra-Orthodox Israeli man from the extremist Neturei Karta sect, which believes that the State of Israel is a blasphemy, has been charged in Israel with espionage for offering to spy against Israel for Iran. The 46-year-old apparently made contact with Iran’s embassy in Berlin and said that he was willing to “kill a Zionist” to help bring about Israel’s downfall.

In Egypt, the Guardian online says that supporters of ousted premier Mohammed Morsi are refusing to halt their street camp protests against the military authority, despite promises that they will be allowed safe passage if they leave of their own accord.

The online editions of the Telegraph and Financial Times both report a series of massive explosions yesterday in a Syrian government-held area of the city of Homs, killing at least forty people. President Assad’s forces, aided by Hezbollah have recently made significant military gains, including in Homs. Meanwhile, the Guardian online says that a United Nations (UN) chemical weapons inspection team will leave for Syria within days, having been granted access to three locations in Syria to determine whether chemical weapons were used there.

In the Israeli media this morning, most dailies lead with the news that the Attorney General has ordered the opening of a criminal investigation over the so-called ‘Harpaz affair’, under which former IDF Chief of Staff Gabi Ashkenazi will be questioned. The incident, in which a forged letter exacerbated tensions between Ashkenazi and then-Defence Minister Ehud Barak, led to the cancellation of Yoav Galant’s candidacy as Chief of Staff. According to Maariv, Israel Hayom and Haaretz, Ashkenazi will now be investigated on suspicion of breach of trust. The story is also a major headline in Yediot Ahronot and Sof Hashavua.

Maariv includes a feature on the work of Gen. John Allen, who has been chosen by US Secretary of State John Kerry to oversee possible security arrangements as part of an agreement between Israel and the Palestinians. Meanwhile, Israel Radio news reports that President Obama spoke to both Prime Minister Netanyahu and PA President Abbas yesterday and praised their moves towards a final status agreement.

Israel Radio news also covers today’s Labour Party Convention which will meet in Tel Aviv to decide on a date for the party’s leadership election. Party head Shelly Yachimovich will push to hold the vote on 21 November, while her rivals Isaac Herzog, Eitan Cabel and Erel Margalit all favour an election on 21 January, giving time to launch a prior membership drive.